Higuain still out, Campana ’50-50’ for Inter Miami game at Charlotte FC on Saturday
Indiana Vassilev arrived in Inter Miami training camp on Thursday after being re-signed on loan from Aston Villa, and he might be needed right away Saturday on the road against Charlotte FC.
Gonzalo Higuain remains out with a thigh contusion, and Leo Campana is “50-50” with a lower leg injury, coach Phil Neville said. Because the game is on artificial turf, Neville said they want to be extra careful with Campana to avoid further injury.
“We’re probably going to take the long-term view with him, but we also know how important he is to the style of play we want to play and the goals we want to score,” Neville said. “That’s why we signed Vassilev. He gives us depth in three or four positions, and he’s very popular. When he got here, the whole building was excited to see him.”
Vassilev, who scored three goals for Inter Miami last season, will be expected to increase the team’s goal production and add depth and speed on the wings.
“We needed more quality in the final third of the pitch,” Neville said. “He’s a goal scorer. He knows there the goal is and scores important goals. It allows us to play Robbie [Robinson] up front, Ari [Lassiter] up front and now we have Indy to come in and provide depth.”
Winger Robinson is expected to return to action after missing last weekend’s 2-0 road loss against New England, but the back line is depleted with a hamstring injury to Aime Mabika and the suspensions of Damion Lowe and Jairo Quinteros. First-round draft pick Ryan Sailor is expected to get some minutes in the absence of the three defenders.
“We want to bounce back as soon as possible and get back to the winning run we had before,” Neville said.
Inter Miami (3-5-1, 10 points) will play Charlotte FC (3-6-1, 10 points) at Bank of America Stadium in a league game for the time in club history (3:30 p.m., UniMas).
The teams faced each other in the Carolina Challenge Cup preseason tournament back in February. Miami won that game 2-1 with goals from Campana and Higuain. Charlotte is coming off a 2-1 road loss at Orlando City, is led by Polish striker Karol Swiderski with four goals and an assist.