Lazio Full-Back Set for Late Athletic Test Ahead of Napoli Clash
Lazio head coach Gennaro Gattuso will be hoping to have Nuno Tavares at his disposal when he takes on his former employers, Napoli.
Nuno Tavares Doubtful for Napoli vs Lazio
Massimiliano Allegri’s men will host the shock league leaders on Sunday’s early kickoff (12:30 CET) in the final Serie A matchday before the last international break of the year. The Partenopei are enduring a difficult moment, and they remain without a host of key players, including Stanislav Lobotka, David Neres, and Andrey Santos.
On the other hand, Lazio have been more fortunate with injuries this season, but this week, they learned that club captain Mattia Zaccagni could be out for one month with a muscle problem. Moreover, Tavares missed training on Wednesday, raising concerns over his availability this weekend.
Tavares Set for Fitness Test
According to La Lazio Siamo Noi, the Portuguese international is suffering from muscle fatigue. Nevertheless, he resumed training with his teammates on Thursday, giving Gattuso a glimmer of hope. The source believes the next two training sessions on Friday and Saturday morning will determine whether the full-back is fit enough for a call-up.
Tavares will thus undergo athletic tests on the training field, and if he manages to prove his fitness, he will join his teammates on the trip to Naples.
Who Would Replace Tavares in Lazio Starting Lineup?
In the meantime, Alfonso Pedraza will prepare himself for a starting role, in case his teammate succumbs to injury. Luca Pellegrini has also been reinstated in the Serie A squad recently, but he remains behind the Spaniard in the pecking order.
Some sources have also proposed Tavares as a potential replacement for Zaccagni in a more advanced role on the left flank, even though the most likely solution is to move Tijjani Noslin out wide and bring in Andrea Pinamonti as a striker.
