Roma star Kone expected to miss Europa League derby against Bologna
Star Roma midfielder Manu Kone is expected to be unavailable through injury for Thursday evening’s Europa League round of 16 first leg clash against Serie A rivals Bologna according to the latest updates in Italy.
The two Serie A sides left standing in the Europa League will go head-to-head over two legs of the round of 16 over the next week, beginning on Thursday evening at the Dall’Ara.
Roma confirmed their squad of players on Wednesday evening, including Kone among the selections, but according to reports from Corriere dello Sport on Thursday, the Frenchman is struggling with a muscular issue.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Kone was already feeling fatigued after Roma’s recent 2-1 loss against Genoa in Serie A. He was given a run-out on Thursday morning ahead of the Bologna match, but this mini-session has only confirmed that he is not in a condition to play this evening.
Thursday’s report claims that Kone is likely to miss out on Roma’s massive Serie A clash against top-four rivals Como coming up this weekend, as well as the Bologna match in the Europa League.
Neil El Aynaoui and Niccolo Pisilli are expected to start in midfield for the Giallorossi against Bologna instead according to the latest updates.
Meanwhile, reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday morning claimed that Kone is still of interest to Serie A leaders Inter heading into the summer transfer window.
Roma squad to face Bologna
Goalkeepers: Svilar, Gollini, De Marzi.
Defenders: Rensch, Ndicka, Tsimikas, Celik, Hermoso, Ziolkowski, Wesley, Ghilardi.
Midfielders: Cristante, Pellegrini, El Aynaoui, Pisilli
Forwards: Malen, Vaz, El Shaarawy, Zaragoza.
Predicted line-up (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Ghilardi, Ndicka, Hermoso; Celik, El Aynaoui, Pisilli, Wesley; Cristante, Zaragoza; Malen