ROMA defender Chris Smalling is in a race to be fit to face his former club Manchester United in the Europa League semi-finals.
The 31-year-old missed his side’s quarter-final tie against Ajax due to knee problems.
But according to Gazetta dello Sport there is a belief one of Smalling or fellow centre-back Leonardo Spinazzola will be fit for the first leg against Man Utd on April 29.
Roma will already be without defenders Marash Kumbulla and Gianluca Mancini through injury and suspension.
Earlier this week, Smalling was robbed at gunpoint in front of his wife and toddler son when three hooded men broke into his home.
The ex-England defender was sleeping when the armed thugs broke into his home and forced him to open his safe.
He proceeded to hand over a Rolex and other items of jewellery.
Smalling joined Roma on loan from Man Utd in 2019 and impressed the Italian side.
He then made his move to Serie A permanent at the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign as the Red Devils offloaded him for £18million.
Over a decade at Old Trafford, the English defender played 323 times for Man Utd.
Since joining Roma he has become a regular in their side, featuring 54 times over his two seasons at the club.
But recurring injuries have sidelined him for periods of this campaign and Roma will hope that does not rule him out of their tie against Man Utd.
The winner of the Europa League semi-final will face either Villarreal or Arsenal in the final.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
