Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu is set to be out for up to three weeks and could miss the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final against Juventus and the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie against Benfica. The Turkish midfielder picked up an injury on international duty and lasted just 37 minutes against Croatia earlier this week.
“Hakan suffered a groin strain. We will find out how bad it is after the MRI.”
That was the first official diagnosis from Turkey coach Stefan Kuntz, as quoted by Tuttosport. The full extent of the injury is yet to be established but tests with the Inter medical staff are set to happen today, including an MRI scan to fully assess the damage. Calhanoglu has a problem with his right adductor, which is near the groin area, but Simone Inzaghi will be hoping that he won’t be kept out for much longer than the original prognosis, with the Nerazzurri set to play nine matches across three different competitions in April.
It is a huge month for Inter and pressure is also on Inzaghi due to their poor form in Serie A that has seen them pick up just one win in their last four matches. Calhanoglu is likely to also miss three league matches too against Fiorentina, Salernitana and Monza. The 29-year-old former Milan man has been a regular for Inzaghi this season and has undertaken a new role, being deployed deeper in the three-man midfield and will be a big miss.
