Lazio wait on Tavares, Sutalo and Zaccagni injury checks

Lazio are awaiting clarity on a fresh cluster of muscle injuries, with Corriere dello Sport reporting that the club has not yet issued diagnoses for the players affected. The newspaper said Nuno Tavares and Sutalo are both suspected of suffering strains, while Mattia Zaccagni will undergo further tests within 48 hours.

Sutalo, who arrived in the summer with a history of fitness problems and has missed 46 matches over the past four years according to the report, came off at the Maradona with his left thigh blocked and is expected to have strained his flexors. Gattuso said in his press conference that the club must understand the extent of the lesion. Sutalo stayed at Formello despite being called up by Croatia, and Tavares also did not travel, giving up his Portugal call-up; the report said he would have been at risk with the national team anyway. Tavares had been listed among the strained players at Napoli and was a doubt until Sunday, with Gattuso admitting the staff knew he could stop at any moment.

Zaccagni had stretched in training during the week after appearing in excellent form. Tests are due within 48 hours to determine whether the edema on his left thigh came from a knock taken in a challenge with Romano against Cagliari or from a strain caused by stretching, possibly first or second degree. Gattuso said the club was waiting for the MRI to see whether the edema emerged from trauma or after a sprint-related tear, adding that they were convinced it was a knock.

According to the report, checks after a muscle problem are usually scheduled 48 hours later and fall due today. First- and second-degree strains can keep a player out for roughly 15-20 to 25-30 days. Lazio resume with Lecce, then Torino and Atalanta before the derby on 13 December. Gattuso has recovered Rovella and Marusic, who were on the bench at Napoli, and said he waited before bringing them back because they needed athletic work; he wants explosive players and prefers others to train separately. He said Gudmundsson must train first, that Lazio will do everything to get him on the pitch in next Saturday's friendly, and that the player can cover several roles, including in place of Zaccagni.