Udinese will have to navigate a demanding October without Nicolò Zaniolo after the club confirmed a right hamstring injury suffered while he was with Italy.
The 1999-born forward had returned to Udine after missing selection for the Nations League match against Belgium because of a physical problem. Further examinations have now identified a lesion to the biceps femoris in his right thigh.
Quick facts
- Zaniolo has begun rehabilitation in Udine after a right hamstring injury.
- Udinese expect him to be available again in around three to four weeks.
- He is set to miss fixtures against Torino, Lecce, Milan and Parma.
- Idrissa Gueye is also undergoing treatment following an ankle sprain sustained against Pogon.
An October absence for Udinese
The projected recovery period rules Zaniolo out of Torino-Udinese on 12 October, followed by home meetings with Lecce on 18 October and Milan on 25 October. Parma-Udinese, scheduled for 28 October, is also expected to come too soon.
That sequence gives Udinese a stretch of league fixtures in which they must manage without one of their attacking options, at a point of the season when squad depth begins to shape the rhythm of the campaign.
If his rehabilitation proceeds as planned, Zaniolo could return during the Halloween weekend against Roma, the club he previously represented. There is no certainty over the precise date, but that match stands as the earliest realistic target.
Udinese also reported an issue for Gueye, who sprained an ankle during the friendly against Pogon. He has started his rehabilitation programme and will be assessed on a weekly basis.
