Lazio’s return from the international break has acquired the familiar tension of a long Serie A season: a medical bulletin that answers some questions, leaves others open, and forces Gennaro Gattuso to count his attacking options before the next domestic fixtures.
Gudmundsson injury leaves Lazio awaiting clarity
- Gudmundsson was injured on 26 September while playing for Iceland against Estonia. A collision was followed by a heavy fall, with his body weight landing on his left arm.
- Early reports suggested that his shoulder had come out of place before being put back, raising the possibility of a short absence and a rapid return supported by treatment.
- Later information from Iceland pointed instead to a non-displaced fracture, a development that would potentially keep him out for around 45 days.
- The Iceland international returned to Italy the following day, although his flight arrived two hours late, and underwent an initial assessment at Lazio.
- The club confirmed a dislocation of the right glenohumeral joint which had reduced spontaneously. Further examinations are scheduled, after which he will begin his recovery programme under daily observation.
Lazio have not set an official recovery timetable. Indications around Formello have suggested an absence of roughly 20 days, which could place Gudmundsson’s return somewhere between Juventus-Lazio on 18 October and the home match against Parma on 24 October. A more serious diagnosis, however, could extend the wait into November.
The distinction is significant. A dislocation can depend heavily on the player’s pain tolerance and readiness to return, while a fracture would require the necessary bone healing. For now, Gattuso knows only that Gudmundsson will not be available against Monza.
Gattuso considers his reduced attacking choices
Gudmundsson had been viewed as a high-level flexible option across the forward line, so his absence is particularly awkward after Mattia Cancellieri also encountered a problem during the break.
Cancellieri suffered a knee wound after falling while on holiday and required stitches. He has not yet been ruled out of the Monza match, but his condition still needs to be assessed. He has been training separately and ran on the previous day.
Gattuso is hoping that Isaksen can return from international duty with confidence. The winger scored against Wales and was due to play Portugal, placing him in contention to move ahead of Cancellieri in the pecking order.
An emergency alternative would see Noslin operating on the right and Pinamonti through the middle. That pairing was tested in the friendly against Arezzo and could be used again in Saturday’s meeting with Juve Stabia. With eight internationals away and several players unavailable, Gattuso began that test in a 4-2-3-1.
Further fitness concerns in the squad
- Cataldi has suffered another setback shortly after returning to action following the delayed rehabilitation from surgery for pubalgia. Lazio said he has developed a quadriceps issue and will be checked day by day. The nature and likely length of the latest problem have not been specified.
- Rovella and Marusic are both in the reconditioning phase. Marusic is expected to rejoin full training next week, while Rovella could return between the Monza fixture and the Juventus match.
- Dele-Bashiru returned to group training on the previous day.
For Lazio, the coming examinations on Gudmundsson will shape the immediate picture. Until they arrive, the club must prepare for Monza with a forward department already affected by uncertainty, and with Gattuso asked to find continuity at a point of the season when every available option begins to matter.
