Roma, Dybala out for a month, set to return v Cagliari, Dovbyk steps up | OneFootball

Roma will have to do without Paulo Dybala for about four weeks. Tests conducted this morning revealed a medium-grade injury to the left hamstring, sustained after the penalty miss against Milan.

Roma, Dybala out: hamstring injury and a month's break. Return expected against Cagliari, Dovbyk ready to take the stage

Despite the injury, there is a small sigh of relief at Trigoria: the tests ruled out more serious complications. The Argentine has already started rehabilitation therapy and aims to gradually return to the group in three weeks.

The goal for coach Gian Piero Gasperini is to have him available for the match against Napoli on November 30, but it is more realistic to expect a return on December 7 in Cagliari, after about a month of actual break.

A significant absence for Gasperini

Dybala's absence forces Gasperini to rethink plans for the coming weeks. The Joya will miss at least five official matches:

Rangers (Conference League)

Udinese (Serie A)

Cremonese (Serie A)

Midtjylland (Conference League)

Napoli (recovery to be assessed)

A packed schedule, worsened by the absence of Lewis Ferguson, also sidelined.

Opportunity for Dovbyk: the Ukrainian's moment

With two starters out, an important window opens for Artem Dovbyk, who could become the offensive reference in the upcoming games.

Gasperini has used him sparingly so far, but his characteristics — physicality, pressing, and ability to attack depth — align with the coach's idea of vertical football. For the Ukrainian, who arrived in the summer with high expectations, this could be the chance to earn space and trust at a crucial moment in the season.

The renewal issue and the fragility of the Joya

Dybala's injury also reopens the internal debate at Roma about his contract renewal. Since being in the capital, number 21 has already collected 20 physical stops, missing about 50% of the matches played by the club in the last three years.

His performance on the field remains very high when available, but the Argentine's muscular fragility represents a significant uncertainty in future planning. At Trigoria, they are considering whether to extend the contract under the same conditions or revise the formula, tying it more to appearances.

A partial sigh of relief

Despite yet another injury, the Roma medical staff looks with cautious optimism at the recovery. The injury is not of a high degree, and Dybala, known for his discipline in recovery, might return a few days earlier.

In the meantime, Roma will have to find new offensive balances without their technical leader, leveraging the enthusiasm of those like Dovbyk, who have everything to prove.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.