Pellegrini targets full fitness over international break; Roma pursue Bakola for midfield

Manu Koné has not been named in France's squad for their matches against Italy and Turkey, meaning the midfielder will continue his recovery from injury rather than join up with Les Bleus. Rodrigo Mora has been recalled to the Portugal squad by Jorge Jesus for the games against Denmark and Wales. For the 2007-born player, it is a return to the senior national team after more than a year, although he is still waiting for his debut. Donyell Malen has been selected by the Netherlands for the matches against Greece and Germany, while Konstantinos Koulierakis will answer Greece's call-up to face the Netherlands and Serbia. On the transfer front, Roma continue to evaluate possible reinforcements for the attack ahead of the January window. Among the profiles being monitored by the Giallorossi management is English winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, currently at Chelsea. The London club would be willing to loan him out in the next transfer window, with Roma at the front of the queue should they open talks. Competition is strong, however: Leeds, Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the Premier League, as well as Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, are also reportedly tracking the player. Ahead of the clash with Roma, Sassuolo boss Alberto Aquilani has called on his side to show character to escape their difficult run. For Aquilani, a former Roma midfielder, it will be a special match: "As a coach it is the first time I enter that stadium, and nobody can take that away from me. I have to set aside the emotions." On his team's form, Aquilani stressed the need to limit mistakes and increase intensity: "We have to run a bit more than the opponents, win the tackles and go for the second balls." Finally, his message to his players: "100% might not be enough, but we have to give 100% and more because we have dignity." Radio Bruno commentator Pedrelli said: "Leaving behind the defeat at Old Trafford and focusing on bringing home a full result against a Sassuolo in serious crisis is the primary goal. It will be a crucial day in the league, especially given Inter v Como and Napoli v Lazio. It would be wonderful to start talking about an anti-Roma in this Serie A." Radio Radio pundit Pruzzo said: "After Manchester we must restart immediately. Sassuolo have conceded ten goals in their last two matches. What is worrying is that they show no signs, they do not react. This allows Roma to manage the match and try to create danger up front. Malen occasionally has lapses, and Castro never plays: we'll see if this time there will be space for him."

Roma midfielder Rodrigo Mora has been called up to the senior Portugal squad for the first time, earning his first selection with the national team during the international break. Head coach Jorge Jesus included the Roma forward in his list for Portugal's decisive UEFA Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales. Mora has made a strong start to the season under Gian Piero Gasperini at Roma. The Portugal boss has praised his contribution in the Italian capital, highlighting his impact in attack. Mora has scored and provided assists for Roma this season, and his form has earned him a place in Portugal's plans for the two fixtures. During the squad announcement press conference, Jesus was asked about how Mora might be used tactically, drawing a comparison with João Félix for the role behind the central striker. He said: "They have the qualities to play that position very well." On Mora's time at Roma, Jesus added: "At Roma, Rodrigo has been very involved in the offensive phase, scoring goals and providing assists. He fits perfectly into what I have in mind for these two games." Portugal face Denmark first on 14 November in Braga, before closing their Nations League group three days later, on 17 November, away to Wales in Cardiff. The call-up gives the young Roma talent the chance to make his mark on the international stage.

Gian Piero Gasperini reportedly chose encouragement over a dressing-room rebuke after Roma's 3-2 defeat to Manchester United, according to Andrea Pugliese. Rather than criticising his players, the coach reportedly highlighted what had gone well in the first half, telling his squad in the dressing room: "We dominated." The message was aimed at protecting the group's confidence after Roma conceded their second Champions League comeback. Manu Koné has been left out of France's squad by Zinedine Zidane for the matches against Italy and Turkey. The decision is linked to his physical condition, allowing Roma to manage his recovery without pressure. His availability for the Sassuolo match remains in serious doubt, although Gasperini could still name him on the bench. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Mora has earned a call-up to the senior Portugal squad under Jorge Jesus. The 19-year-old has scored three goals in eight Serie A appearances and provided two assists in the Champions League, a reward for his progress at Roma and his performance against Manchester United. According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are now prepared to consider a temporary transfer for Gittens, having rejected Roma's earlier proposal. Roma had also pursued the English winger during the summer. D'Amico is looking for a quick winger capable of beating his man, and competition for the 2004-born player remains strong. Sassuolo are without two key players. Alberto Aquilani will be missing Berardi, his main attacking reference, and Volpato, the former Roma player, who will miss the return to the Olimpico, both through injury. Sassuolo arrive on a run of four consecutive defeats and have conceded 16 goals. Aquilani, returning to the Olimpico as a coach in a difficult moment, admitted his side's difficulties at his press conference and called for an immediate response. Gollini is still struggling with the back problem that ruled him out before the Manchester trip. Roma's medical staff at Trigoria are evaluating injections as a way to get him back, but the most likely option is that Devis Vásquez starts. Mile Svilar will not return until after the international break.

Roma face another league fixture tomorrow evening, a win that could put them within one step of the top of Serie A depending on other results and would send the giallorossi into the international break with more confidence after their comeback in Manchester. Gasperini will have three key players fully available during the break: Svilar, Koné and Dybala. Pellegrini, however, will remain sidelined for a long period. In recent matches, the three-man combination of Malen, Soulé and Mora has produced positive results. Malen has continued to score regularly, Soulé has become increasingly central to the attacking build-up, and Mora has found his form, registering a goal or an assist in every recent match in which he has been actively involved. The real problem, however, is the lack of depth. Reserves are currently missing, partly through injury and partly through structural shortcomings that have been flagged repeatedly since late August. For this reason the club is actively searching for the right signings to give the coach in the transfer window, which in this case must also strengthen the attacking department. The situation resembles last year, when the primary aim was to find a couple of attacking players. Four arrived in the end: Malen, Venturino, Vaz and Zaragoza, with only one, the Dutchman, proving decisive. Gasperini is strongly focused on Endrick. The Brazilian was the chosen target last summer, but after a near move to Ciampino, Mourinho's ill-timed intervention stopped the deal. So far Endrick has performed well, and very well only at the end of the match against Roma, which is an irony of fate, but he continues to find limited playing time. He is left-footed, and combines excellent basic technique with accelerations that would be very useful to Roma even when a match is already underway. Imagine Endrick in place of Mora in the second half in Manchester. Maguire and his teammates would have had reservations about pushing forward, as happened especially after the cruel penalty awarded by Manzano. Endrick is part of Roma's plans and is the primary target, but it is not enough. Gasperini would like to complete the department with two players: the Brazilian plus another number ten, second striker or attacking player who is right-footed and physically well built. Gittens is mentioned, out of favour at Chelsea, and above all Kvernadze, who for his age and wage would fit perfectly into the sustainability path set at Trigoria in recent months. Numerically, Pellegrini's serious setback and the new problems for Dybala could push the club and coaching staff to reflect carefully on the squad numbers. Roma cannot realistically withstand the weekly double commitment with Malen (plus Castro), Mora, Soulé and then the adapted players. The overall picture of incomings could be completed by a midfielder with running and physical power, to cover Koné's physical difficulties and De Roon's age. A trio of signings could make Roma's squad resistant to injuries and able to cope with the demands of the Champions League, Serie A and the Coppa Italia, which returns in January.

Gian Piero Gasperini is set to start Matías Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Donyell Malen together in attack for Roma's home match against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow evening. Roma have been hit by a long run of absences, with Svilar, Gollini, Rensch, Koné, Cristante, Dybala and Pellegrini all missing at least one match across Serie A and the Champions League since the international break at the end of September and beginning of October. The fixture is the ninth game in 27 days for Roma. In midfield, Marten de Roon has stood out, and he is set to start his ninth match in a row tomorrow night. The attack has been the most reshuffled part of the side, but beyond Malen's consistency, Gasperini has been encouraged by the rapid growth of Soulé and the flashes of quality from the young Mora. The trio are starting for the third game in a row in the space of a week. Roma's latest run has been mixed. In Udine, Roma won with a fiery performance at the Bluenergy Stadium, and they had the game wrapped up by the 37th minute before fading after the break. In the first half, Soulé, Mora and Malen dominated. Soulé provided assists for Malen and for a header by N'Dicka, while Mora scored the goal that made it 2-0 after Cristante's pass. Malen, with his eighth league goal of the season, continued his record-breaking form in the Roma shirt. At Old Trafford, the pattern repeated itself in the opening 45 minutes. Mora's fantastic pass set up Soulé for the 1-0, and Soulé then won a penalty that Malen converted for 2-0. At half-time Mora was substituted, Roma dropped deeper, and Manchester United staged a stunning and painful comeback. Sassuolo arrive with the worst defence in Serie A, having conceded 26 goals in 10 matches, including 12 in their last three games, played between Saturday 24 October and Monday 2 November. Mati, Rodrigo and Donyell are ready to shine again against them, with the aim of finishing this part of the season well. The article's author sums up the mood: the appetite comes with eating, and tomorrow night Roma have every condition to serve up a good dish.

Roma must put the sting of their Champions League defeat to Manchester United behind them and refocus on Serie A, when Sassuolo visit the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday. Sassuolo are coached by Aquilani, a former Roma player, and are in serious difficulty, although they had impressed earlier in the season with their football and individual quality. It is a test that should not be taken lightly for Gian Piero Gasperini's side. Roma have closed the gap on Inter, moving to within one point of them, but they are four points behind league leaders Lazio. Roma remain without Svilar, Dybala and Koné, as well as Rensch and Pellegrini. Sassuolo will be missing Volpato, Koné, Boloca and Leysen. The match is available to watch on Sky and Dazn, with kickoff time and probable line-ups also confirmed in the build-up to the fixture.