Dimarco closing in on Inter return; Spence facing Roma absence

Inter will have Federico Dimarco available for their match against Roma on Saturday, barring any setback. The Italian defender is recovering from an injury that forced him to miss Inter's Champions League trip to Real Madrid and trained partially with the squad this morning. He could also be included in Inter's lineup for their Monday fixture at Udine. Djed Spence, by contrast, remains unavailable — he is still training separately and is unlikely to feature against Roma. Roma travel to face Torino on Monday before hosting Inter on Saturday, two matches in five days that will provide early indicators of the teams' title ambitions. After three matches, Roma sit top of Serie A on a perfect record, level with Lazio and Inter, the defending Italian champions. Inter boss Chivu will have Dimarco in contention for the big match, but Spence's absence will limit his options in defence.

Manu Koné was forced off in the 52nd minute of Roma's Champions League match against Fenerbahçe in Istanbul on 10 September with a knee problem, immediately raising concerns at the club. The French midfielder's early departure after just seven minutes of the second half has put the Roma medical staff on high alert as they assess whether he will be fit for the club's forthcoming fixtures. Koné is a central figure in Roma's midfield, making his early exit particularly worrying for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The initial indications suggest the injury may not be serious, however, with the club treating it with measured optimism. No instrumental tests have been scheduled, a decision that suggests the problem is not expected to be severe, though Roma will need to monitor the knee's response over the coming hours and during the resumption of training. The midfielder's condition will be assessed day by day by Roma's medical staff with no scans currently planned. The club will monitor the situation daily as Gasperini waits to confirm whether Koné can be available for Roma's next matches.

Manu Koné's early second-half substitution yesterday sparked concern over his fitness, but a medical check-up this morning has allayed fears. The midfielder had requested to come off due to knee discomfort, prompting head coach Gasperini to admit that while the staff had not been greatly alarmed, the injury needed monitoring. Koné underwent a control examination this morning that revealed no significant problems, meaning an instrumental scan was not necessary. He will be assessed day by day to determine whether he can recover in time for the Torino fixture, though his availability for that match remains in doubt. If he is unavailable, Niccolò Pisilli stands ready to deputise, having encountered some difficulties against Fenerbahçe yesterday.