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Arsenal left-back Riccardo Calafiori is facing a race against the clock to prove his fitness in time for Italy's final World Cup qualifier against Norway in Milan on Sunday
Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori is expected to miss Italy's World Cup qualifier against Moldova on Thursday with a hip issue.
The 23-year-old left-back has been following a separate training programme away from his international team-mates this week at their team base in Coverciano, Florence.
Calafiori, who has started all 11 of the Gunners' Premier League matches so far this season, played 90 minutes in Arsenal's pulsating 2-2 draw at Sunderland last weekend.
However, his involvement is likely to be limited for his country during the break as the Azzurri look to wrestle back top spot in Group I of their World Cup qualification campaign.
The former Bologna man is now trying to prove his fitness in time for Sunday's decider against Norway in Milan. Italy have work to do if they're to pinch top spot and book their place at next summer's finals.
Tom Canton
Norway currently lead Group I by three points and they also boast a notably superior goal difference to the Euro 2020 winners.
It means Italy will also likely require Estonia to take points from Norway in Oslo on Thursday when they travel to Moldova.
Calafiori has played 863 out of a possible 990 minutes for Arsenal in the Premier League this season and he remains ahead of both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Piero Hincapie in the pecking order at left-back.
Mikel Arteta has, however, rotated in the Champions League and EFL Cup and outside of the 2-0 European victory at Athletic Club in September, Calafiori has frequently been rested in both of those competitions.
The Gunners are hoping to welcome back a number of first-team stars for the North London Derby against Tottenham on November 23.
Norway boss Stale Solbakken claims Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is still "some distance away" from a return, while Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz have made huge progress in their recoveries from respective knee issues.
It had been suggested that both could potentially earn minutes for Arsenal's U21s against Cardiff City on Tuesday night but neither were present in the youth-team squad for the 3-1 Football League Trophy defeat.
Gabriel Jesus is also poised to return before the end of the year following ACL surgery in late January. Attackers Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli are also on the comeback trail after picking up hamstring and groin issues, prior to the international break.
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