Torino return to Serie A duty against Udinese on Monday night with an unfamiliar advantage: Ignazio Abate can finally look across his forward line and see every recognised striker available. After a season opening shaped by absences and careful management, the Granata coach has options to consider, including the realistic prospect of fielding two natural centre-forwards.
Key takeaways
- Che Adams has resumed full training after a muscle injury and is available for the Udinese match.
- Adams scored twice in Torino’s first three league fixtures, against Milan and Fiorentina, before his setback.
- Duvan Zapata, Giovanni Simeone and Pietro Pellegri have also used the international break to improve their condition.
- Pellegri is set to receive a call-up after completing his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury suffered while on loan at Empoli.
- Kulenovic remains in contention after scoring Torino’s equaliser in Bologna.
A fuller attacking department for Abate
Adams is the most significant return. The Scotland forward had been Torino’s leading early scorer, finding the net against Milan and Fiorentina in the opening three rounds of the campaign. His momentum was interrupted when he picked up a muscular problem in training on the Thursday before the home fixture with Roma.
He subsequently missed the meetings with Roma and Bologna, but the three-week pause has brought him back on schedule. Adams first joined part of Thursday’s team session before returning fully to group work the following day. His physical condition is considered sound, with the forward eager to resume a central role in Abate’s plans.
The break has also offered Simeone a chance to reset. The Argentine has scored once this season, in the Coppa Italia against Carrarese, and is still waiting for his first Serie A goal in Torino colours. A tailored fitness programme was designed around his needs during the pause, leaving him refreshed for the next phase of the league season.
Captain Zapata is also back in a better position. He had experienced minor physical issues in August and September, linked to the effects of his previous injury and particularly noticeable when the intensity of his running and duels increased during matches. He has trained regularly through the break and is ready to provide an additional attacking option for at least part of Monday’s contest.
Pellegri’s return adds another route forward
Pellegri’s availability carries its own weight. Torino have long valued the striker’s potential, but his career has repeatedly been interrupted by injuries. His most recent setback was a cruciate ligament rupture during last season’s loan spell at Empoli, where he had begun positively in Serie B.
Having completed his rehabilitation programme, Pellegri is expected to be included in the squad for Udinese. His return gives Abate another specialist forward at a moment when Torino’s attacking group is as complete as it has been since the campaign began.
Kulenovic is the fifth available striker. He already showed his value from the bench in Bologna, where his goal earned Torino a 1-1 draw, and he remains keen to build on that contribution. Nikola Vlasic is another attacking-minded resource, although he is more naturally counted among the midfielders.
For Abate, the question is no longer merely who can get through the next match. With Adams, Simeone, Zapata, Pellegri and Kulenovic all in the frame, Torino can begin to consider how much ambition to place in their selection against Udinese — and whether this is the moment for a front two.
