Svilar's recovery continues with a boot brace and gym work

Roma head into a double away trip with several absentees, though there are signs of improvement across the squad. Svilar's tests have confirmed he will return after the international break, while Dybala still feels discomfort in his calf and continues with individualised work. Manu Koné, recovered from injury, has returned to partial training on the pitch, and both he and Dybala could return against Sassuolo. Hermoso and Balerdi have overcome their respective knocks, while Mora is favoured over De Roon. The Giallorossi will be followed by a large travelling support on their upcoming away fixtures. Between Udine and Manchester, close to 10,000 Roma fans are expected to be present, around 5,000 for the trip to Udine tomorrow and 3,000 for Tuesday's match at Old Trafford. Many supporters in England are also set to travel without tickets just to experience the Champions League atmosphere. Before the international break, another sell-out is expected at the Olimpico for the match against Sassuolo. Gian Piero Gasperini is the oldest coach in Serie A, yet his style of football remains among the most modern and attacking in the league. As Il Messaggero reports, the Roma coach continues to work with the same innovative drive as his younger colleagues, building an identity partly rooted in the study of Van Gaal's Ajax: a back three, high pressing and a constant search for goals.

Roma have returned to training ahead of a crowded run of fixtures, with Koné now fully recovered from his injury and aiming to return against Sassuolo. The squad travels to Friuli today for Sunday's Serie A match against Udinese, before moving on to Manchester on Monday on the eve of the Champions League clash with United, and the club are facing both games with a depleted list of players. Mile Svilar's medical tests confirmed that his return has been pushed back until after the international break. Paulo Dybala gave no cause for optimism after yesterday's session, as the Argentine forward trained on a personalised programme because he is still feeling discomfort in his calf. His availability for the trip to England is therefore very uncertain. Koné, by contrast, is over his injury and has started working apart from the group on the pitch. The French midfielder, like Dybala, is determined to be back in action for the league meeting with Sassuolo. For the trip to Udine, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who has chosen not to hold his usual pre-match press conference, is weighing up solutions and changes in defence, where Hermoso and Balerdi have shaken off their respective knocks. In midfield, De Roon is the favourite to play alongside the pairing of Cristante and Pisilli, while up front Malen is set to return from the start alongside Soulé.

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.

Roman radio pundits have urged Roma to move quickly for Endrick, while debating the Udinese fixture and the club's attacking options. Mario Corsi (Tele Radio Stereo) said that Roma must act first, warning that AC Milan could beat them to the forward. He pointed to Roma's spending: "Dopo aver speso 60 milioni per Ramos, uno che non segna mai, se può spendere anche per questo... ecco perché dobbiamo muoverci." Corsi also claimed that Endrick would agree to join Roma if he chose the club, and he suggested Mourinho was still thinking about Roma. David Rossi (Rete Sport) raised concerns about Paulo Dybala's fitness before the international break. He said playing Dybala in the game before the break would be "una forzatura" and suggested that Matías Soulé would be used in every match, which could become a problem. Rossi also asked why Roma did not try Guaglianone in the current emergency, noting that Guaglianone had brought forwards such as Arena and Paratici but had never brought in a "mezza punta", the role where Roma are struggling. Gianluca Piacentini (Rete Sport) said that Roma now feel more confident in the strength of the squad than they did last season, when a top-four finish was essential. He said he wanted Roma to aim for first place rather than fourth, and he admitted he would now prefer AC Milan to win the derby over Inter. Lorenzo Pes (Tele Radio Stereo) expected Hermoso and Balerdi to play at Udine, and said Marten de Roon, whom he had seen declining against Cagliari, would likely start alongside Bryan Cristante with Niccolò Pisilli pushed forward. He tipped Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro to come off the bench. Pes said Mile Svilar would return after the break, and that Manu Koné had resumed training on the pitch to be available against Sassuolo. Of Dybala, he said: "Dipende da lui. Ma per Manchester mi sembra obiettivamente difficile." Alessio Nardo (Tele Radio Stereo) questioned whether Gasperini already had an XI in mind for Manchester and, consequently, for Udinese. He said: "Sia United che Udinese sono due panchine a fortissimo rischio, bisognerà capire se è un vantaggio o meno per noi." He added: "Io non dico che vincere a Udine domani sarebbe un'impresa, ma comunque sarebbe un grandissimo risultato per la Roma." Nando Orsi (Radio Radio) was the most confident of a Roma win, arguing that Udinese were in free fall. He said: "Questa è l'occasione giusta per la Roma... Non vedo un altro tipo di risultato oltre alla vittoria della Roma." Roberto Pruzzo (Radio Radio) warned that Roma must settle the match early, cautioning that Udinese had recovered Davis and Zaniolo and could cause problems if Roma conceded space. He added: "È una partita da prendere con le molle." Mario Mattioli (Radio Radio) argued that Udine would not be easy for Roma despite Udinese's crisis, and said a Roma win would be "un'altra piccola impresa di questo campionato." Ubaldo Righetti (Radio Romanista) said Roma were not tired against Cagliari, though Mancini may have been, and that De Roon was still effective because he worked through the lines rather than chasing opponents. Righetti said the problem was frenzy, with simple passes going astray. Daniele Lo Monaco (Radio Romanista) warned that Mora risked the same fate as Bojan, who never fulfilled the promise he showed after leaving Barcelona.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has drawn up a shopping list as the club looks to strengthen its squad, with three signings reportedly in mind before the international break. Roma face Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo as the last three matches of a gruelling run of nine games in 28 days, and they are doing so short of numbers. Svilar, Dybala and Koné will not be available tomorrow, and only the last two are hoping to return from the next fixtures. The squad is stretched thin. Gasperini said earlier in the season: "La rosa va allungata" ("The squad needs to be lengthened"). While awaiting the UEFA ruling expected in November, the sporting director is already working to reinforce the team. Last January, Malen, Vaz, Venturino and Zaragoza arrived at the club. Gasperini would be content with three targeted signings: an attacking winger, a backup for Wesley and a dynamic central midfielder. For the attacking unit, the names linked are Leweling and Gittens. A surprise could be van Bommel of PSV Eindhoven, a player Roma have been monitoring for some time. Roma are also not giving up on Endrick. Real Madrid have little room for the Brazilian, who wants to leave. D'Amico will need to find the right formula, which could resemble the deal that brought Bobby in a year ago: a loan with an obligation to buy on certain conditions. Attention then turns to the wide midfield. Mendes has offered Balde of Barcelona, while the new name is Pascini of Atlético Mineiro. The most pressing problem, however, is midfield. Pellegrini will return in 2027, and Koné has frequent physical problems. Roma need a energetic runner in the centre of the park, and Moses of Slavia Prague is on the notebook.

Roma's radio pundits have been weighing up the team ahead of tomorrow's trip to Udinese, and Lorenzo Pes on Teleradiostereo 92.7 says Paulo Dybala is unlikely to feature in the Champions League against Manchester United. Pes said: "Balerdi and Hermoso have recovered. I expect de Roon to start again. Svilar will return against Parma, the medical staff have decided not to take a risk and the goalkeeper could go back to work in Belgium. Koné trained on the pitch yesterday, his goal is to return with Sassuolo and then go to the national team. Dybala wants to be there against Manchester, but it will depend on him. He also did personalised work yesterday, and for now it is difficult to see him in the Champions League." The broadcasters are unanimous that Roma must win in Udine, and several pundits warn that the fixture is no formality. Francesco Balzani on Teleradiostereo 92.7 said: "I fear everyone. Roma are clearly stronger and must win in Udine, but when there are these closely spaced matches... And Udinese at home have always caused problems for the giallorossi. My mind is on Manchester on Sunday, and I hope the players do the same. The most important path for me remains the one in Italy, the goal is the Scudetto, and you must not fail these games against the 'small' sides." Roberto Pruzzo on Radio Radio Mattino 104.5 noted that Udinese have recovered Davis and Zaniolo and could cause problems, adding: "Roma must immediately steer the game tomorrow. In the last match Gollini made some saves and the giallorossi must be careful. In midfield Roma have few alternatives. This point of the season is delicate." The panel's predictions on the line-up vary. Ugo Trani on Teleradiostereo 92.7 said: "I think the certainties like Wesley and Malen will surely play tomorrow, the doubt is at the back. If Balerdi is well he could play him at centre-right, but if he is not at 100% he will not risk him. On the right flank, in my opinion, Lulli plays. Up front Soulé and Mora from the start, but they could also field a midfielder. I don't think they will force Koné's return before the break, also because France are there too. The Udine game frightens me, Manchester is whatever comes. But against Udinese I consider it the hardest of the three matches." Trani also said: "Ghilardi has learned a lot from Mancini, sometimes he even gives the impression he could play as a winger because he has an explosive pace." He added: "I really hope for Endrick, Milan are out. If he leaves, he comes here." Felici said on Teleradiostereo 92.7: "We need some attention towards Udinese, but we also need a sense of reality, and the conclusion is that Roma cannot afford not to win in Udine. Against Cagliari, even though the win came 4-2, it was not a stroll. In Udine you may not have to score a goal-fest, but to win you have to win." Balzani expected "two changes in defence", with Ghilardi and Balerdi alongside Hermoso, and suggested Mora could start with Cristante pushed forward and de Roon behind. Simone Valdarchi on Radio Manà Manà 90.9 expects rotation in defence and on the flanks, pointing out that Koulierakis and Mancini could be left out compared with the last outing, while at least two of Ghilardi, Balerdi and Hermoso could play. He said: "If he had the chance, I think Gasp would give Ndicka a rest too, but maybe it is not the moment." Nando Orsi on Radio Radio Mattino 104.5 was the most confident: "There is too great a gap between Roma and Udinese. All games are difficult, but on the pitch you see the differences in value. I do not see any other result besides a Roma win."