Simone Inzaghi rules Lukaku out of Inter’s Derby della Madonnina

boss

s injury update gave

an advantage in the pair's battle for the Serie A title as he admitted

's recovery will take more than expected. The

returned to Inter on loan from

, but a thigh injury means he will miss their biggest match of the season to date.

Inzaghi told his pre-match press conference:

"The hope is for [Lukaku] to recover before the international break. It will take some time, but the medical staff is working on his recovery. We must prepare for these eventualities.

The former

boss called on his players to show "nastiness and determination" in their most important

game of the season.

"Last year, we played many derbies and the last one allowed us to win a trophy,"

he said.

"A derby is loaded on its own - two strong teams face each other and the matches are balanced, decided by individual episodes.

"We need to make a difference. We know it's an important match. It needs to be a tour-de-force between now and November - it will take nastiness and determination."

Centre-back

also missed their 3-1 victory over

last week. On Bastoni’s injury, Inzaghi added on his selection dilemma:

"He was not 100 percent already before the Cremonese game with a fever, and in these two days he still was not well.

"I will decide as soon as I get him back in the group in training, as well as for the attack where I can choose between three players and figure out who to support Lautaro [Martinez].

"On Tuesday, [Joaquin] Correa did very well and scored, [Edin] Dzeko did a great job.

"I also have to choose in the wide positions. [Robin] Gosens has been stationary for six months. Right now I'm preferring to let him enter the race. In the derby I will decide between him, [Federico] Dimarco and [Matteo] Darmian."

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