Inter are not planning to rush midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan back from injury following a thigh strain suffered yesterday, and he will be given sufficient time to fully recover.

This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, who report that the Nerazzurri are targeting a possible return for the Armenian in the Milan derby at the start of next month but only if he is fully fit.

Mkhitaryan looks set to miss a few matches with a thigh problem which he picked up yesterday, although it should not be more than three weeks or so on the sidelines for the 33-year-old.

The club’s priority is to give Mkhitaryan more than enough time to fully recover so that he can return at his best and not risk reinjury.

Based on the initial assessments, a return in time to face city rivals AC Milan in the derby could be realistic, but the Armenian will not be rushed back one way or the other.