Udinese recovers Lautaro Giannetti ahead of Monday’s away match in Lecce and hopes to have Florian Thauvin, Sandi Lovric and Enzo Ebosse back for the subsequent direct clash with Empoli currently scheduled for Sunday 19 May, but still awaiting confirmation given that Lega Serie A has not made the schedule for the 37th matchday official.
Here are the “gifts” that Fabio Cannavaro had asked for from the medical staff on Monday evening after Napoli, accompanying the request with a smile that spoke volumes about the trust placed in his collaborators, but above all in the injured players with whom the coach spoke at length right from the start. since his arrival. Gifts that would truly be a great gift for Udinese who, in view of the rush for salvation, not only need the technical value that can be spent on the pitch, but above all the personality and experience that players like Giannetti, Thauvin and Lovric can guarantee, as naturally as Roberto Pereyra ready to return to Lecce (as we report separately, ed).
However, even if the desire to have them back as soon as possible is great, Cannavaro will not be able to “unwrap” his gifts all together, but only one at a time, because even if the willingness of those directly involved to return is total, there is still to be compared with the times necessary for complete recovery. It is precisely here that Lautaro Giannetti took his first shot, rejoining the group yesterday after the stop he was forced to due to the muscle injury to the rectus femoris of his right thigh suffered shortly before the trip to Verona. Injury which prevented him from taking part in the away match on 19 April at Bentegodi, but which fortunately turned out to be first degree, thus allowing for a quick recovery.
Good for Udinese because back there, in defence, Jaka Bijol played under a booking against Bologna and Napoli and Giannetti’s return, at least to the bench in Lecce, can be reassuring for Bijol himself and for Cannavaro who at Via del Mare he will return to have Nehuen Perez in defense, upon his return from suspension, just like Martin Payero, appointed to take back his place in midfield.
With Pereyra, Perez, Payero and Giannetti, Udinese will therefore have 4 more players than in the match against Napoli, when the overall absences of injured and suspended players brought the count to 9 players. Then, after Lecce, Udinese will aim to find Thauvin and Lovric again. Just a month has passed since their respective flexor injuries suffered on 8 April in the final against Inter, and the two are continuing to work hard and under the radar. The feeling is that Thauvin will be able to be the first to return, barring complications in seven days’ time, with Lovric expected to follow him closely. The aim is to have them on the bench with Empoli, together with Ebosse, in view of the grand final in Frosinone.
