Pellegrini to undergo tests after muscle problem against Slovan Bratislava

Lorenzo Pellegrini is sidelined with a muscle problem, adding to Gian Piero Gasperini's injury worries at Roma. The midfielder came off in the match against Slovan with a discomfort in his hamstring (flessore), and tests on him are scheduled for Thursday. The news comes as Roma's attacking options look thin. The Italian headline describes the attacking depth as stretched, with few players available up front. Pellegrini, a Roma academy product, is one of the club's key midfield figures, so his absence is a concern for Gasperini as he manages the squad through a demanding stretch.

Roma are waiting anxiously on the condition of Lorenzo Pellegrini, who left the pitch during the match against Slovan Bratislava with a muscular problem in his right thigh. Speaking in his post-match press conference, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini said the midfielder could be sidelined for 20 days. The official diagnosis, along with a timeframe for recovery, will come tomorrow, when Pellegrini, who wears the number 7 shirt, undergoes instrumental tests. Until then, the club's medical staff will not be able to confirm how long he will be out, leaving the squad and supporters in suspense over his availability. Gasperini's estimate of 20 days offers an early indication of the likely absence, but the scan results will determine the final prognosis and whether the Roma captain-level midfielder is ready for the next fixtures.

Lorenzo Pellegrini's fitness has Gian Piero Gasperini anxious after the midfielder pulled up with a problem in his right thigh flexor and asked to be substituted in the 50th minute of Roma's most recent match. The number seven, back in the squad for about a month, is already back on the treatment table. Pellegrini first underwent initial checks on Tuesday, with a magnetic resonance scan due on Wednesday to determine how long he will be out. Roma's hope is that the injury is a first-degree tear, which would keep him sidelined for around 15 days. If the problem proves more serious, he will not return until after the November international break. Roma face Napoli with a limited attacking pool: Santiago Castro, Rodrigo Mora, Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen are the only forwards available. Paulo Dybala is also out, although he is targeting the trip to Udine.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is sidelined with a muscle problem, adding to Gian Piero Gasperini's injury worries at Roma. The midfielder came off in the match against Slovan with a discomfort in his hamstring (flessore), and tests on him are scheduled for Thursday. The news comes as Roma's attacking options look thin. The Italian headline describes the attacking depth as stretched, with few players available up front. Pellegrini, a Roma academy product, is one of the club's key midfield figures, so his absence is a concern for Gasperini as he manages the squad through a demanding stretch.

Roma are waiting anxiously on the condition of Lorenzo Pellegrini, who left the pitch during the match against Slovan Bratislava with a muscular problem in his right thigh. Speaking in his post-match press conference, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini said the midfielder could be sidelined for 20 days. The official diagnosis, along with a timeframe for recovery, will come tomorrow, when Pellegrini, who wears the number 7 shirt, undergoes instrumental tests. Until then, the club's medical staff will not be able to confirm how long he will be out, leaving the squad and supporters in suspense over his availability. Gasperini's estimate of 20 days offers an early indication of the likely absence, but the scan results will determine the final prognosis and whether the Roma captain-level midfielder is ready for the next fixtures.

Lorenzo Pellegrini's fitness has Gian Piero Gasperini anxious after the midfielder pulled up with a problem in his right thigh flexor and asked to be substituted in the 50th minute of Roma's most recent match. The number seven, back in the squad for about a month, is already back on the treatment table. Pellegrini first underwent initial checks on Tuesday, with a magnetic resonance scan due on Wednesday to determine how long he will be out. Roma's hope is that the injury is a first-degree tear, which would keep him sidelined for around 15 days. If the problem proves more serious, he will not return until after the November international break. Roma face Napoli with a limited attacking pool: Santiago Castro, Rodrigo Mora, Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen are the only forwards available. Paulo Dybala is also out, although he is targeting the trip to Udine.

Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri has recovered midfielder Vergara ahead of Saturday's clash with Roma, with the player set to be named in the squad for the match at the Maradona. Vergara had suffered a medium-grade strain of the right soleus while on Italy duty, but he has returned to partial group training today. Napoli will be without Alisson Santos and Neres, as well as Buongiorno and Favasuli. Roma face a difficult selection problem of their own. Gian Piero Gasperini will have to do without Koné, Svilar, Dybala and Pellegrini. Cristante returns to availability for the Roma boss. The fixture is a significant test for both sides, with Napoli looking to strengthen their position against a Roma side who will be missing several key players.

Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo has said the club must sign a striker in January and named Ademola Lookman as the man to target, on a six-month loan. Pruzzo was one of several Roman radio pundits giving their views on Gasperini's side after a run of two matches that followed a heavy defeat to Real Madrid. The debate centred on the forward line. Pruzzo said Castro does not play when Malen is fit, and that Mora did not take advantage of his chance. He said Mora is not ready for this stage. Ugo Trani, of Tele Radio Stereo 92,7 and Te la do io Tokyo, also called for signings in January, saying two attackers are needed. He said the club can spend in January, noting that 30 million euros was ready for Leweling on the last day of August. Trani suggested moving Mancini into midfield as one option, while adding that Gasperini does not want to change the team's shape and is right not to. Trani said Lulli can play at Napoli and that Mora has not received many passes, so he would not load him with responsibility. He added that Koné is feeling better and Cristante has returned, which he called two good pieces of news, because de Roon is short of oxygen. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo 92,7 said Gasperini is keeping his selections very tight, with only Soulé and Mora behind Malen for the Napoli game. On the injuries to Dybala and Pellegrini, Pes said: "I don't see any exaggeration from Gasperini in how he has used them. Pellegrini starts two games, he hasn't played four out of four, there has been a gradual approach." He added: "Pellegrini seems to me a player prone to injuries, he always has two or three a season. Now he is 30, he is entering the final phase of his career, and the problems get worse. He and Dybala are very predisposed to this kind of injury." Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà Sport Roma said: "Mora was less good than the others yesterday, but I still want to wait for him, he is young and has only just arrived. He is struggling but I don't want to be harsh. Last night he had a good chance and didn't take it. The squad is short and that was known." He praised Ghilardi, saying he has a good, resistant and fast run.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has been ruled out with a new muscle problem, while Bryan Cristante is back in the squad and aiming to be fully available for Saturday's trip to Napoli, coach Gian Piero Gasperini has said. Speaking after the 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, Gasperini said: "Now we have recovered Cristante but we lose Pellegrini. In certain areas we are a bit stretched." Roma regained their winning form in Europe and rotated their squad, but the injury list grew. Pellegrini was forced off early in the second half against Slovan with a muscle problem, interrupting a spell in which he had been steadily regaining continuity and condition. Gasperini played down the severity of the injury but indicated a recovery of some length: "I don't think it's a serious thing. However small it is, when it's muscular it takes 20 days, I think it's around that value." Further tests will clarify the situation, but Pellegrini is set to miss the Napoli match and several of the games that follow. His absence further complicates the selection in the attacking midfield, already affected by the absence of Paulo Dybala. Cristante had been out for recent weeks with a knee problem sustained after the Roma-Inter match. Against Slovan he was officially named back in the matchday squad, although he did not play, with Gasperini preferring not to rush his return. Being on the bench is still a significant step towards full recovery. The aim now is for him to be genuinely available against Napoli at the Maradona, a date Gasperini had earlier identified as a possible return. His availability could prove particularly valuable given the shortage in midfield. Dybala's situation has changed since the first indications after the Real Madrid match. Initially a simple calf strain was mentioned, but the latest checks revealed a small tear. Ahead of the Slovan game, Gasperini explained the Argentine must rest for at least a couple of weeks. After the European match the coach stressed how much his absence weighs on the attack: "If we don't recover Dybala quickly we will really be few in number." Dybala will therefore miss Napoli, and his recovery will be managed with caution. Manu Koné's rehabilitation continues. Tests carried out after the Roma-Real Madrid match showed a first-degree tear of the right hamstring. The Frenchman will not be available at the Maradona and is working towards a return in the coming weeks. Gasperini had pointed to the Sassuolo match as a possible reference point for his return: "Koné has had an MRI: it is a first-degree tear, not particularly significant. It needs the necessary time for recovery and we hope to have him available for Sassuolo." Whether he could be available sooner for the Champions League trip to Manchester United remains to be assessed. Mile Svilar is also still out, recovering from a stress fracture to a finger. The goalkeeper is continuing his programme and will not be available for the trip to the Maradona. The aim is to have him back after the next international break, once the necessary consolidation work is complete. In the meantime Pierluigi Gollini continues to inspire confidence in goal, having kept two consecutive clean sheets against Genoa and Slovan Bratislava. Until Svilar returns, Gollini will remain Roma's first choice in goal. The absences of Dybala, Pellegrini and Koné mainly reduce the options between midfield and the attacking midfield, but Gasperini can count on Malen's return and the possible recovery of Cristante. The most natural solution remains a 3-4-2-1, with Soulé and Mora behind the Dutchman, although a two-striker system with Malen and Castro, supported by one of the two attacking midfielders, is not ruled out. If Cristante is fully available, an alternative would be to pair him with De Roon in midfield, allowing Pisilli to push forward into the attacking midfield. As of 21 October, the probable Roma line-up is: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Wesley, De Roon, Pisilli, Molina; Mora, Soulé; Malen. Coach: Gasperini.