Argentina suffer several injury blows | OneFootball

Argentina interim boss Lionel Scaloni has a few injury problems to contend with ahead of the upcoming friendlies against Guatemala and Colombia.

The biggest and most worrying one from La Albiceleste’s point of view concerns Gabriel Mercado, who fractured a bone in his arm during the Seville derby clash with Real Betis on Sunday and is likely to be sidelined for a number of weeks.

Before that, Eduardo Salvio had been forced to withdraw from the national team after picking up an ankle injury in Benfica’s 4-0 victory over Nacional.

But the issues don’t end there. Scaloni may be forced to wait before he can partner Mauro Icardi with Lautaro Martínez up front as the two Inter stars have both brought knocks with them to the selección.

“They are hurt, but they will go to the national team, then we will see how they return,” Nerrazzuri boss Luciano Spalletti told reporters after Saturday’s win over Bologna, in which Lautaro was an unused substitute and Icardi missed altogether.

Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Icardi is unlikely to play during the international break due to a problem with the quadriceps on his right leg, whereas Lautaro his discomfort in his left calf but should be ready to feature against Colombia on 11 September.