After a long injury and a series of events that marked his absence through a nasty bout of tendonitis, Chris Smalling is ready to make his return to the field for Roma. After obtaining approval from the club’s medical staff and overcoming some personal doubts related to his physical condition, the English defender is prepared to return to action after five months and could feature at Frosinone tonight.During the period of absence, the former Manchester United centre-back faced various obstacles, including inconsistent team results, coaching changes with Jose Mourinho’s dismissal and Daniele De Rossi’s arrival as the new boss. Additionally, he had to deal with criticism from fans after a social media message that was interpreted controversially. His prolonged absence created a mix of emotions, including concerns about his physical form and the criticism he received. However, Smalling is determined to return to the field and prove his worth.Mourinho is gone, and so is love between him and his wounded soldierSmalling’s return could take place tonight, with the defender potentially starting on the bench and then being fielded in the second half, depending on the course of the match and De Rossi’s decisions. This opportunity to play away from home could help Smalling regain confidence and adapt to the pace of the game, thereby reducing pressure on him and also giving fans the chance to reconsider their criticisms. Ultimately, it is now up to the 34-year-old Englishman to prove his value on the field and regain the trust of the fans through solid and determined performances.Frosinone’s quest for their first Serie A away victory this season persists following a 5-1 loss against Fiorentina, marking their seventh defeat in nine competitive matches. The four-point gap to the relegation zone ahead of this round is starting to raise concerns, especially considering former Roma player and coach Eusebio Di Francesco’s side has collected only four points across their last nine league encounters. Their path out of this predicament is increasingly unclear.##NAJAVA_MECA_7881527##Seeking to rediscover their form, Frosinone will find solace in returning home, where they have garnered 20 of their 23 points this term. However, their recent home record of three defeats in their last four league games is cause for worry. Their dismal history against the Giallorossi, losing all five previous top-flight encounters and conceding at least twice each time, adds to the challenge.Following a defeat against league leaders Inter Milan last Saturday (4-2), Roma required a second-half equalizer to draw 1-1 against Feyenoord on Thursday in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League knockout play-off tie. With the second leg looming next week, the visitors might have distractions. However, De Rossi cannot afford to lose focus on domestic matters, especially after guiding the Giallorossi to three consecutive league victories before the Inter defeat, putting them on course for a top-four finish.Chris Smalling | #Training pic.twitter.com/5TDo3IdaGv— 𝗔𝗦 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 (@asroma_images) February 13, 2024 Roma, currently in sixth place, have not suffered consecutive Serie A defeats since the beginning of September. Nevertheless, a loss in this fixture could see them drop to ninth by Sunday evening. On a brighter note, a victory at the Stadio Benito Stirpe would mark successive away triumphs for the first time since October 2022, following their 2-1 win against Salernitana last month.SERIE AFridayTorino – Lecce 2-0 (0-0)/Bellanova 50, Zapata 81/Inter – Salernitana 4-0 (3-0)/Thuram 17, Martinez 19, Dumfries 40, Arnautovic 90/SaturdayNapoli – Genoa 1-1 (0-0)/Ngonge 90 – Frendrup 47/Verona – Juventus 2-2 (1-0)/Folorunsho 11, Noslin 52 – Vlahovic 28 pen, Rabiot 56/Atalanta – Sassuolo 3-0 (1-0)/Pasalic 22, Koopmeiners 58, Bakker 75/Sunday14.30: (2.40) Lazio (3.20) Bologna (3.40)17.00: (1.95) Udinese (3.45) Cagliari (4.00)17.00: (3.70) Empoli (3.45) Fiorentina (2.15)20.00: (3.90) Frosinone (3.50) Roma (1.95)22.45: (4.70) Monza (3.50) Milan (1.80)***odds are subject to change
