Gollini steps up as Svilar sidelined with foot fracture

Hermoso has played the most minutes of any Roma player this season, with 812 minutes on the pitch across the first twelve matches in Serie A and the Champions League. Wesley follows closely on 806 minutes, having just been called up by the Brazilian national team, and Gianluca Mancini has logged 798 minutes. Il Tempo reports that the figures show Gian Piero Gasperini is rotating his squad rather than relying on fixed starters. The rotation has become necessary because of a demanding run of nine matches in 27 days, which ends with games against Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo. Mancini has shown some signs of fatigue in recent outings, which has given Gasperini the chance to turn to fresher options such as Ghilardi, Koulierakis and Balerdi. On the flanks, Molina, Lulli and Rensch take turns, while Ndicka remains a reliable presence in defence with 727 minutes played. In midfield, Cristante and Koné have been used consistently, alongside Pisilli and De Roon. In attack, Soulé (770 minutes) and Malen (752 minutes) have been the most used forwards. Dybala, who is currently sidelined, is next on the list, followed by younger players Mora and Castro, who continue to earn valuable spells within the season's rotations.

Mile Svilar will not return to action before the international break, with his comeback now set for 21 November against Parma after a follow-up MRI scan on his toe showed the bone callus has not yet formed. Pierluigi Gollini will keep goal in the next games against Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo. Paulo Dybala is also a major concern. The Argentine has trained individually and is determined to travel to England, but the problem with the lateral gastrocnemius (the outer calf muscle) is not yet fully resolved. Roma's technical and medical staff do not intend to take risks to avoid a relapse, which puts his availability for Old Trafford in doubt. Manu Koné, who has resumed training on the pitch, is aiming to return against Sassuolo before the break. With two matches in four days and a squad under pressure, Gian Piero Gasperini must manage his resources and rotate heavily. Neither Dybala nor Koné is in the squad for the trip to Friuli. Donyell Malen starts up front, with Soulé alongside him, while the wide positions will see alternating options such as Celik, Rensch and Wesley on the left. Balerdi and Hermoso are fully recovered. Ghilardi is pushing for a place and could start at Udine, allowing Ndicka or Mancini to rest ahead of the Champions League night in Manchester.

Rodrigo Mora continues to split opinion among Roma critics and fans, with some seeing a talent of unquestionable potential and others an overpriced signing. The Portuguese winger's total investment, including fixed fee and bonuses, could reach €52 million, making the 2007-born player the most expensive transfer in the club's history. On the pitch, Mora came on in the second half of the recent match against Cagliari and initially struggled to find his position on the right flank. The turning point came from a tactical switch by Gian Piero Gasperini, who swapped Mora and Matías Soulé and moved the Portuguese to the left. From that moment, Mora changed the momentum of the match, heading home the new Roma lead and setting up the final goal of the 4-2 win. According to Tuttosport, Mora's place in the squad is also shaped by this summer's market dynamics. Sporting director Tony D'Amico explained that the club were looking for a winger with different characteristics and greater physical presence, while Mora is a player of great technical quality who still needs to be moulded tactically and in terms of consistency. At 19, and in his first experience of Italian football, the former Porto player needs time and daily work. Gasperini has the material needed to correct his lapses during the ninety minutes, avoiding hasty judgements: a single mistake does not define a player's value, just as one decisive performance does not complete his development.

Mile Svilar will not return to action before the international break, with his comeback now set for 21 November against Parma after a follow-up MRI scan on his toe showed the bone callus has not yet formed. Pierluigi Gollini will keep goal in the next games against Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo. Paulo Dybala is also a major concern. The Argentine has trained individually and is determined to travel to England, but the problem with the lateral gastrocnemius (the outer calf muscle) is not yet fully resolved. Roma's technical and medical staff do not intend to take risks to avoid a relapse, which puts his availability for Old Trafford in doubt. Manu Koné, who has resumed training on the pitch, is aiming to return against Sassuolo before the break. With two matches in four days and a squad under pressure, Gian Piero Gasperini must manage his resources and rotate heavily. Neither Dybala nor Koné is in the squad for the trip to Friuli. Donyell Malen starts up front, with Soulé alongside him, while the wide positions will see alternating options such as Celik, Rensch and Wesley on the left. Balerdi and Hermoso are fully recovered. Ghilardi is pushing for a place and could start at Udine, allowing Ndicka or Mancini to rest ahead of the Champions League night in Manchester.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing another reshuffled Roma side for Saturday's trip to Udine, kicking off at 18:00 on 31 October, with changes expected mainly in defence and midfield after the rotations used against Cagliari. Mancini and N'Dicka risk a rest, with Ghilardi and Balerdi candidates to start from the first minute. Balerdi, along with Hermoso, has recovered from the knocks that forced him onto the bench against Cagliari. Changes on the flanks are also possible, while the midfield pairing of Cristante and Pisilli is gaining ground, with De Roon initially on the bench. These are pre-match indications only, with several places still open. Up front, Malen is ready to win back his starting spot, alongside the untouchable Soulé, who has 3 goals and 3 assists to his name this season. Behind them, Rodrigo Mora could start, having been favoured for a place from the first minute after his decisive goal against Cagliari. The Portuguese impressed Gasperini with his second-half introduction and now aims to gain more consistency. The absences remain heavy. Dybala will certainly miss Udine and is seriously doubtful for Manchester United: the calf injury is reportedly now overcome, but the Argentine continues to feel discomfort and trained individually again yesterday. A return against Sassuolo on 7 November is more likely, when Gasperini hopes to also get Koné back, who has resumed individual work on the pitch. For Svilar, his return has been postponed until after the international break, so Gollini will again be in goal in Udine, in the Champions League and against Sassuolo. Gasperini is forced into fresh choices, a situation that also confirms his intention to involve the whole squad for a increasingly demanding schedule.

Roma head into the international break with a string of absences, and Nicolò... no. Roma head into the international break with injuries and fitness doubts, and Gian Piero Gasperini has found a new leader in Santiago... no. Roma head into the international break with a long list of absences, and Matías Soulé has become the player Gasperini is relying on most. Paulo Dybala will miss the trip to Udine, which is set to be the first of three matches before the break, as he continues to undergo individualised training. Leggo's Francesco Balzani reports that Dybala no longer has calf injuries, but he still has minor discomfort. Dybala wants to return at least on the bench against Manchester United next Tuesday, but this is difficult for now. Returning against Sassuolo is more likely, when Gasperini hopes to also recover Manu Koné. There is no such good news for Mile Svilar. His checks after the fracture of his fifth toe, carried out yesterday, call for caution and mean he must wait another couple of weeks. Gollini therefore remains in goal. Soulé continues to impress at the start of the season after a summer in doubt and his long-awaited debut for Argentina. He has scored 3 goals and provided 3 assists. His average shots on target per match (2.78) and successful dribbles (2.22) have both more than doubled compared with the same stage last year. This development pleases Gasperini and means Roma do not miss Dybala too much. Soulé is expected to partner Malen against Udinese, in a round that also features the Milan derby, with Rodrigo Mora behind them after his joy against Cagliari. In defence, Ghilardi and Balerdi are likely to replace Mancini and N'Dicka, while de Roon will rest in midfield.