Huge Champions League final boost for Inter as Lautaro Martinez set to return from injury ahead of schedule

Inter Milan have been handed a timely boost ahead of a pair of crucial fixtures, with Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) reporting that star forward Martinez is set to return to training with the first team this week. His return to fitness will come as great news for both his teammates and the Inter faithful, as they will contest in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 31, aiming to lift the 'Big Ears' trophy for the first time since 2010.

The Argentine was seen struggling towards the end of the first half of the Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona earlier this month. Subsequently, he was brought off at half-time. It was then revealed that the striker had suffered a thigh injury, which cast doubts over his participation in the second leg. However, El Toro made a miraculous recovery just in time for the reverse fixture at San Siro, marking his return by not just starting the game, but also scoring an important goal in the first half.

Since that game, which booked Inter's passage to the Champions League final, Martinez has not participated in training with the rest of the squad, missing out on the team's last two Serie A encounters. There's renewed hope now, with La Gazzetta reporting that Martinez could return to training either on Tuesday or Wednesday. It is not ruled out that he might even end up in the starting XI for the final Serie A game of the season against Como on Friday, with Simone Inzaghi's troops fighting for the title.

Martinez has been dealing with injury problems throughout this season. According to data from Transfermarkt, the 27-year-old has already missed eight games this season and has been injured four times. This is the most number of games he has missed for the club in a single campaign since arriving in 2018. But it goes without saying that Inter will be significantly more confident of lifting the Champions League trophy against PSG with a fit and firing Martinez.

It remains to be seen whether Martinez can feature in Inter's final Serie A game of the season against Como later this week. But it is likely that the former Racing Club prodigy will be available for the high-stakes clash against PSG on May 31.