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Due to some lingering injuries and an ill-timed international break or two, Patrik Schick’s Roma career has gotten off to a sputtering start, so much so that you’d be forgiven if you forgot about Roma’s record breaking €42 million signing from Sampdoria. Schick’s Roma career thus far has consisted of all of 16 minutes, however, in those handful of minutes we saw what a transformative presence Schick can be. His lanky, somewhat awkward looking gait was remarkably effective in his debut against Verona, where his first touch nearly resulted in a goal.
Considering all the minor knocks Roma has experienced up front, Shick’s impending return is perhaps the best bit of good non-Dzeko news the club has received in weeks.
As you can see, Schick has rejoined his ‘mates in full training, doing some sort of Praise Jesus/The PAT is good exercise, though I’m not sure that works his injured hamstring, but as you can see, Schick seldom skips leg day, bro. Schick is still remarkably young and remarkably expensive, so you can’t fault the club for treating him with kid gloves.
However, if he is actually deemed fit for service, it will be interesting to see how/when/where Eusebio Di Francesco utilizes Roma’s new #14. While they have a bit of a break in the schedule over the next week or so, November is looming, and with it brings matches against Chelsea, Fiorentina, Lazio and Atletico Madrid, so it really will be an all hands on deck scenario.
While Dzeko is in absurd form at the moment, he’s not immune from fatigue, so whatever rest EDF can sprinkle in for him will benefit the club in the long run, not to mention getting either of Schick or Gregoire Defrel minutes at their more natural position.
Man management and personnel rotation are key tenets of modern football, and at long last, Roma will get to exercise them....we hope.
So will we see Schick this weekend? Should we or should they wait?