AS Roma will be without top scorer Donyell Malen for the upcoming international break after the forward sustained a knee injury. The issue, a contusion picked up in the closing minutes of Saturday's 2-2 draw with Inter, rules him out of the Netherlands' Nations League matches.
The diagnosis and call-ups
Dutch national team coach Xavi has omitted Malen from his squad for the fixtures against Germany, Serbia and Greece, calling up Guus Til as his replacement. The injury is described as minor but enough to sideline the player. He will be joined at Roma's Trigoria training base by Brazilian forward Wesley, who misses Brazil's friendlies against Australia and India with right-thigh muscular soreness.
Cristante also absent
Another key Roma midfielder, Bryan Cristante, will miss Italy's four Nations League games against Belgium, France and Turkey. Samuele Ricci has been called up in his place. Cristante, like Wesley, will remain with the club to work ahead of Serie A's return.
The Giallorossi context
Losing Malen, who has six goals in five appearances and is the driving force of an attack that has scored 14 league goals, is a blow during a strong run. Roma are unbeaten in their last five Serie A matches, with a record of three wins and two draws. Their next fixture is away to Como on October 11th, a match for which the coach must find an attacking solution.
This story first appeared at Sky Sport IT
