Lazio will be without Nicolo Rovella for a while, forcing Gennaro Gattuso to start considering alternative options.
The 24-year-old is widely considered the club's most creative force in the middle of the park, but he's coming from a miserable campaign wrecked by two long-term injuries. Therefore, the Biancocelesti faithful were left incredibly frustrated when the Italian international picked up a knock against Genoa on Sunday .
Over the last few days, there have been contradictory reports regarding Rovella's condition. La Gazzetta dello Sport claims he will only be out for two weeks due to a calf strain. However, Il Messaggero insists his condition is more serious and could require a 40-day layoff.
Nicolo Rovella (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
The Roman newspaper claims the player will miss the next three games against Udinese , AC Milan , and Venezia before the long international break.
Rovella's blow has pared Lazio's midfield down to the bone, as Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is also out of action, while Danilo Cataldi needs additional time to recover from groin surgery after a recent setback. Reda Belahyane, who replaced Rovella against Genoa , should feature as a starter in the coming weeks, acting as a deep-lying playmaker between Kenneth Taylor and Davide Frattesi .
Amid the lack of options, Gattuso might also have to introduce young blood, namely Adrian Przbyborek, who is expected to be tested as a Regista in the coming days. The 19-year-old Pole is a creative midfielder who joined Lazio in January, but only made one appearance for the senior team, which came on the final day of the previous campaign against Pisa .
Perhaps Gattuso will also consider Bruno Galassi , a 19-year-old midfielder who was poached from Real Madrid this summer, and might be a more natural fit for the deep-lying playmaker role.
