Inter in need of Eto'o boost

Inter Milan are hoping Samuel Eto'o can shake off an ankle knock in time for Sunday's visit to Parma after the Cameroon forward returned from the African Nations Cup to further boost the leaders' title challenge.

Brazil defender Lucio and Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder are suspended after being sent off in last weekend's 2-0 win over second-placed city rivals AC Milan, which sent Inter nine points clear at the top.

Serb midfielder Dejan Stankovic is still struggling with a calf muscle problem.

New Juventus boss Alberto Zaccheroni is without keeper Gianluigi Buffon and defender Fabio Grosso, both suspended, and a host of injured players for his first game in charge, which is against his former club Lazio on Sunday.

The Turin side sacked Ciro Ferrara on Friday after a dropping down to sixth with a dreadful run of form and losing 2-1 at Inter on Thursday to exit the Italian Cup in the quarter-finals.

AC Milan, who have a game in hand on Inter, look set to be without Alexandre Pato again for Sunday's home match against Livorno because of a thigh injury.

Centre-back Alessandro Nesta is battling to regain fitness following a leg muscle strain that ruled him out of the derby.

Lowly Livorno visit the San Siro without suspended keeper Alfonso De Lucia and midfielder Mozart.

Fitness problems mean third-placed AS Roma are unlikely to have captain Francesco Totti up front in Sunday's home game against Siena while Luca Toni is out for a month with a calf problem.

Midfielder Michele Pazienza is suspended for fourth-placed Napoli's home game against Genoa on Saturday.