Romelu Lukaku should be available for Inter Milan’s Champions League clash with Viktoria Plzen, which could seal the Italians’ place in the round of 16, manager Simone Inzaghi said on Tuesday.
“If Lukaku confirms what we have seen in training yesterday and in recent days he will be in the squad, he has been working with great enthusiasm and desire,” Inzaghi told reporters.
“We still have training today, but it is clear that he is back. He is a very important player for us who has been out for two months. It has been a great loss.”
Lukaku’s return is also welcome news for Belgium coach Roberto Martinez, with the Red Devils’ World Cup opener against Canada less than a month away.
Inter can qualify from Group C on Wednesday night thanks in large part to the four points they picked up from their previous two games against Barcelona.
Inzaghi’s side sit second in the group and lead the Catalans by three points with two games to go after beating them at the San Siro and then drawing a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Camp Nou a fortnight ago.
Having the better head-to-head record between the two teams would decide the final placements in favor of Inter if the pair finish level on points.
Inter take to the field in one of the first two games on Wednesday and will eliminate Barça, who host group leaders Bayern Munich, if they manage the three points as expected.
However, even if they fail to win, they will still enter the last 16 draws on November 7 if Barca fail to improve on Inter’s result.
