Inter return from the break with a midfield question that has suddenly become more pressing. Jones, who had been the leading candidate to start against Parma, is expected to miss around 20 days after suffering an adductor muscle problem. His absence removes one of Cristian Chivu’s immediate options and gives the coach a decision to make before the league resumes.
Barella and Calhanoglu remain the established names in the department, but the contest for the remaining places now involves Piotr Zielinski, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Petar Sucic and young Stankovic, who is considered primarily as a deep-lying midfielder. The international break has given some of them substantial work: Zielinski started all four of Poland’s matches, while Sucic began three games for Croatia and came off the bench in the other.
Sucic’s Croatia spell included the 7-0 defeat to England, yet he also received encouragement from Zvonimir Boban, who said the midfielder deserves greater involvement. Jones’ injury may offer precisely that opening at Inter, although Sucic has so far struggled to turn his opportunities into a sustained case for selection.
Sucic waits for a larger role
The Croatian has accumulated 212 minutes in all competitions, with starts against Cagliari and Roma and substitute appearances in his other outings. His performance at the Olimpico was his most convincing so far, marked by several useful passages of play, but he has not yet produced the level of influence expected of him.
Inter’s senior management continue to believe in the player, and Sucic has avoided publicly dwelling on his limited minutes. “These are matters I would rather discuss at another time,” he said. “I will fight and give everything for the club, then we will see what happens in two or three months.” It was a careful response, leaving his position open while underlining his intention to compete for it.
Mkhitaryan is another possibility for Chivu, though the 37-year-old has played only 69 minutes across Serie A and the Champions League. His restrained use had been anticipated, with the season demanding careful management of his workload. Stankovic has featured even less, playing just under 15 minutes across the matches against Monza and Udinese, but the current circumstances could also bring him closer to the pitch.
For Inter, the Parma match is therefore not simply a return to the fixture list. It is an early test of the squad’s midfield depth, with Jones temporarily removed from the picture and several players offered a chance to alter the order behind Barella and Calhanoglu.
