Inter striker Romelu Lukaku is not expected to recover in time for Saturday’s crunch Serie A match against AS Roma, as his troubled start to his second stint with the club continues.
The Belgium international returned to the Nerazzurri on loan from Chelsea this summer, just a year on from departing in a €115 million switch, but has struggled to replicate the form that saw him propel Inter to the Scudetto in 2021.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Lukaku is yet to fully recover from the thigh injury sustained in a training session in August and his chances of even making the bench against Jose Mourinho‘s Giallorossi is thought to be close to nil.
Whilst Lukaku has returned to fitness training, he is not yet in a position to make his comeback and underwent a different regime to his teammates on Wednesday.
The former Manchester United striker has been limited to just three appearances for Inter so far this season, netting less than two minutes into his second debut for the club against Lecce on the opening day.
Inzaghi targeting Champions League return
It is believed that Lukaku will be left out of the game against AS Roma and will instead be focusing on making his comeback when Inter welcome Barcelona to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Tuesday.
Coach Simone Inzaghi will be hoping to unleash the Belgian star as both sides vie to compete with Group C leaders Bayern Munich, although it may come too soon for Lukaku to start the match.
