Pellegrini's return as valuable as a new signing: the international break as a springboard under Gasperini

Manu Koné has not been called up by France. Coach Zinedine Zidane left the Roma midfielder out of his squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Italy and Turkey. The decision is linked to the fitness of the Roma player, who is still recovering from a muscle injury picked up against Real Madrid. Koné had hoped to return to action tomorrow against Sassuolo, which would also have shown he was ready to answer the call from the Bleus. Roma, however, have consistently preferred caution and have not sought to rush back one of the most important players in the squad. With the non-selection, the question of international commitments no longer applies. The absence from Zidane's squad allows Roma to manage his recovery without the pressure of international duty, with the break potentially used to bring Koné back to full condition. Koné has only partially resumed training with the group, and his availability for Sassuolo remains in serious doubt. Gasperini and the medical staff will assess until the last moment whether to include him in the matchday squad, but another setback remains a real possibility. The goal is to have Koné at one hundred per cent when the league resumes, when Roma face Parma and Paris Saint-Germain.

France coach Zinedine Zidane has left Roma midfielder Manu Koné out of the squad for France's upcoming Nations League fixtures against Italy and Turkey, with the injury keeping him out of action confirmed as the reason. Koné has been sidelined by a physical problem that has kept him away from the pitch, and his absence from the French list makes clear he will not take part in the Bleus' next matches. Roma continue to monitor the condition of the 26-year-old, who is still working his way back from the injury that forced him to miss their most recent fixtures. The France midfielder is an important piece in the plans of Gian Piero Gasperini, who hopes to have him back available soon. His condition had already made a possible call-up uncertain, and the French federation's decision confirms that he will not feature in those international games, allowing him to continue his recovery without the commitments planned for the break. The news came on the eve of Roma's Serie A fixture against Sassuolo, with the international break bringing developments from the national-team front as well. For Koné, the omission means a period of uninterrupted rehabilitation at Trigoria while Roma prepare for their domestic programme.

Roma are set to face Sassuolo, with Rodrigo Mora expected to start from the first minute and Leonardo Balerdi included in the match-day selection, according to the probable line-ups published ahead of the fixture. Gian Piero Gasperini has the possible options for the clash with Sassuolo. The headline notes Gollini is in doubt, and Devis Vásquez is set to be in goal again, which the report presents as a probable change between the posts. The lineup report also touches on the wider context around the squad. Koné has been left out of the France squad by Zidane, and Roma's attack has been described as record-breaking, with Gasperini now able to surpass a record set by himself. Gasperini also commented after the defeat to Manchester, saying: "We dominated." Carrick returned to speak about the victory over Roma, saying: "The first half was not bad."

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.