SKRINIAR IN CONTENTION TO RETURN FOR INTER IN TIME FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CLASH WITH BENFICA

Inter remain hopeful that Milan Skriniar will be fit enough to return in time for their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Benfica on April 11.

There had been concerns recently that the Slovak centre-half would miss the remainder of the season due to a struggle with lumbosciatalgia, an inflammation of one of the muscles and nerves close to the spine.

Given that he is set to depart from San Siro on a free transfer in the summer, there were fears that the Champions League Round of 16 second leg against Porto at the Estadio Dragao would have been Skriniar’s last appearance in the blue and black of Inter.

There had also been controversy earlier in the week when Skriniar had reportedly been visited by doctors on behalf of Paris Saint-Germain, who he is meant to join in the summer, despite the fact that he is still contracted to Inter.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Skriniar has been for a consultation with a specialist in France who has given a positive assessment, and that with work in the pool and treatment from the physio, the 28-year-old could return to action much earlier than expected.

So encouraging was the assessment of Skriniar’s current condition, that Simone Inzaghi is hopeful that he could get some competitive minutes into his legs in one of the games before the Champions League tie.

Whilst the upcoming game against Fiorentina on Saturday is likely to be too soon, there is still the possibility of Skriniar featuring in either the Coppa Italia semi-final against Juventus or against Salernitana in the league the following weekend.