Evan Ferguson to miss Roma’s Coppa Italia clash due to injury

The Ireland striker suffered a back injury during Saturday's Serie A game against Sassulo

Evan Ferguson has scored five goals fro Roma this season. Pic: ©INPHO/Giuseppe Fama

Evan Ferguson will miss Roma’s Coppa Italia clash against Torino due to the back injury that forced him out of Saturday’s Serie A win over Sassulo.

Manager Gian Piero Gasperini afterwards detailed the knock as a ‘serious bruise’ but the recovery time for the on-loan Irish striker isn’t considered long-term.

The 21-year-old had found form in recent weeks to stay in the Roma side for the fifth successive league game on Saturday.

A knee in the back from his marker eventually led him to be substituted six minutes before half-time.

Roma went on to win 2-0, courtesy of late goals from Manu Koné and Matías Soulé, to stay in fourth place of the table.

Gasperini will also be missing another striker, Ukrainian Artem Dovbyk, for the last-16 clash but is in the process of recruiting reinforcements. Aston Villa’s Donyell Malen is close to joining in a €25m deal.

“Reaching the final and playing a final at home would be crucial for the club and our fans,” said the manager about eyeing a route to the decider, to be played at their home of Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Ferguson will aim to be back for Sunday’s Serie A clash against the same opponents, this time away, but the main priority from an Irish perspective is his fitness in time for the upcoming World Cup playoff semi-final away to Czechia on March 26.