David Alaba will miss Udinese Calcio’s upcoming Serie A home fixture against AS Roma due to a right calf strain, manager Kosta Runjaic confirmed during a team press conference on Friday. The 34-year-old Austrian captain has been sidelined since his first league start for the club on October 18, when a physical ailment forced him off at halftime during a 3-0 home defeat to US Lecce.
Calf Strain Extends Sidelined Period for Alaba
The latest injury setback leaves Alaba with a total of just 63 competitive minutes on the pitch since completing his transfer from Real Madrid roughly a month ago. Runjaic did not provide a specific timeline for the defender’s recovery during his Friday media briefing. In addition to missing Saturday’s match against third-placed Roma, Alaba has already been forced to sit out previous league fixtures against AC Milan and Parma.
Udinese currently sits 17th in the Serie A standings. Alongside Alaba, manager Runjaic confirmed that central defender Oumar Solet remains unavailable for selection due to a muscular injury, further depleting the squad’s defensive depth ahead of the weekend fixture.
National Team Uncertainty and Upcoming Schedule
The prolonged absence creates immediate personnel challenges for Austrian national team manager Ralf Rangnick. Rangnick is scheduled to announce his squad on Monday for upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Ireland at home on November 14 and Israel away on November 17.
Medical staff in Udine intend to use the upcoming international break to manage Alaba’s rehabilitation carefully without rushing his return. The club has targeted a potential comeback for the 34-year-old defender during an away fixture against Bologna on November 22, following an intervening league match away to Venezia on November 6.
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