Chris Smalling should be available to face Manchester United in the Europa League this week, if selected.
The former United centre-back has been battling injury and had not played a match since March 7.
That game itself was his first start since the end of January.
On Sunday evening Smalling was back in Roma’s starting line-up as they took on Cagliari.
Could be significant
Roma will be without centre-back Mancini after he picked up a yellow card in the second leg against Ajax which means he is suspended for the Europa League semi-final first leg this week.
Roma play with a three-man defence, and without Smalling they would have been light on options. His return is perfectly timed from their perspective.
Smalling played 59 minutes as Roma stumbled to a 3-2 away defeat. Two goals were conceded while he was on the pitch.
After the game manager Paulo Fonseca was quoted by Football Italia saying: “He did very well. It was important to get Chris at least 45 minutes of playing time, he had more than that, and I think it was positive. Now he has the chance to play against Manchester United.”
Mkhitaryan struggling for form
Henrikh Mkhitaryan was a second half substitute for Roma in their defeat.
He has failed to halt an alarming slide in his form.
The former United attacker has 11 goals and nine assists this season, but none of them have come since late January.
That’s a span of 14 games now without a goal or assist. United will have to be wary, as form can go out of the window in big games, but it is better to be facing him right now, than the way he was playing earlier in the season.
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