Kean misses Como-Roma with a shin problem picked up on international duty

Moise Kean is missing Como-Roma, and the reason isn't trivial: a shin problem picked up on international duty, in the match against Belgium, that forced him to leave the Coverciano camp early and also sit out the game against Turkey. Cesc Fabregas spelled out the timeline to reporters: "He'll be out for around ten days. He took a bad knock in the Belgium game, and then kept playing. Communication between federations and clubs could certainly be better."

For anyone running him, the problem is twofold. Kean was already a struggling starter: just one start from the opening whistle so far this season with Como, in the 2-1 win over Parma, still hunting his first goal in the new shirt. Ahead of him in Fabregas' attacking pecking order is Douvikas, who has started 5 of the first 6 matches and scored against Udinese, Napoli and Leipzig in the Champions League; the Greek striker is on the verge of extending his Como contract to 2030, a sign of how much the club believes in his form.

Italy coach Roberto Mancini, discussing the shin issue, described it as something Kean has carried for a while, the same pain that already hampered his last season at Fiorentina. Fabregas, for his part, added that the former Juventus man still needs to adapt to the defensive movement his system demands.

The fantacalcio message is clear: with the roughly ten days announced by Fabregas, Kean is a certain absence for Sunday's match against Roma and a doubt for the fixture after that. On our list he's priced at 25, in the 21-30 band where a high rating earns a bonus point; benching him this round is the safer call. Ahead of him in the same role, Douvikas has climbed to 23 and looks set to keep starting in the coming matchdays, while the squad's third striker, Diao, remains a lower-profile option at 13.

There's also a transfer angle, relevant only to those tracking the squad long-term: according to multiple reports, Como are working on a January move for Sergio Camello, the Spanish forward from Rayo Vallecano, with an offer around 10 million euros. A signing that, should it happen, would add to Douvikas and Kean in Fabregas' attack rather than necessarily displacing either, since the Spanish coach also sees him capable of playing just behind the main striker.

What's still unclear is how much these ten days announced by Fabregas will really affect Kean's return: if the recovery sticks to schedule, the striker could be available again as early as the fixture after Roma.