Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini reveals Luis Muriel will return to action ‘after the next international break’ but insists La Dea has plenty of options up front.
Muriel sustained a muscle injury earlier this week with Atalanta confirming recovery time ‘will not be rapid.’
“The feeling is that Muriel will have to stay out of action for a long time, perhaps until the next international break,” Gasperini said at a press conference.
“However, Zapata feels well, he trained with the team today and he seems fit. He will play, but I don’t know if he will start.
“I have six strikers for two spots, I think that’s enough. Malinovskyi, Miranchuk, Ilicic, Zapata, Muriel and Piccoli. Competition can motivate everybody.
“I will see Gosens today, but he seems fine, he even played 30 minutes with Germany. Ilicic is motivated, but he had back pain yesterday, so we’ll assess him tomorrow.”
La Dea host Fiorentina at the Gewiss Stadium tomorrow.
“Fiorentina have Vlahovic, a player who has improved exponentially. They signed some important players over the summer, so they have ambition. We don’t have much time to prepare for the game, but one day must be enough.”
Teun Koopmeiners was the last summer signing for La Dea, but the Dutch midfielder may not start against La Viola.
“He is a quality midfielder with personality despite being young. We have invested a lot in a department where we are already very strong and where we can rely on two hyenas who concede little,” Gasperini admitted.
“Right now, I don’t know what he can add, he is not very defensive and he must understand the movements and settle in, but he is a very smart guy.”