Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari side has been hit by injuries ahead of their match against bottom-placed Serlanitana on Saturday.
They will be without strikers Andre Petagna, Leonardo Pavoletti, and Zito Luvumbo, leaving the manager with no option but to maintain players like Zambia’s Kingstone Mutandwa in his first team.
The 21-year-old striker was handed his debut appearance in the Italian Serie A last Sunday in a 1-0 away win over Empoli after being subbed on in the 87th minute.
The match against Salernitana presents another opportunity for Mutandwa to make an impression, as he will eye his second appearance in Serie A.
He has been training with the first team since his debut and is expected to make the squad for the Salernitana clash.
Speaking during a pre-match press conference on Thursday, Ranie explained why he handed the former Athletico Lusaka striker his debut in Serie A.
“I like King, he’s young and never gives up,” he said. “He has the right spirit and that’s why I threw him in [last Sunday]
Cagliari is third from bottom in the relegation zone with 23 points after round 27. A win for them tomorrow could lift them out of the bottom three.
READ MORE: Zambia’s Mutandwa expected to make second Seria A appearance
