Paulo Dybala and Tammy Abraham trained with the Roma squad today, so could be available for tomorrow’s Europa League play-off with RB Salzburg, but the England striker’s protective mask is raising questions.
The Giallorossi lost the first leg 1-0 in Austria and need a victory at the Stadio Olimpico to at the very least force extra time, aware that away goals no longer count double in European knockout fixtures.
Dybala had been a major doubt after missing the weekend’s game against Verona with a muscular issue and returned to training for the first time today, though seeing him in the starting XI might still be a stretch.
Abraham went off in the early stages of that match after an accidental collision with a teammate’s boot left him needing stitches to his eyebrow.
Medical staff have worked with technicians to build him a protective mask that he tried out today for the first time in training.
It is raising a few concerns, as unlike most protective masks for facial fractures, this one has to completely cover his left eye and include a clear lens he can see out of.
There had been reports in the Corriere dello Sport this morning that Abraham would be given Edgar Davids style goggles to protect the eye.
It remains to be seen if this will affect his vision or his ability to head the ball.