Sampdoria vs Cagliari preview - Injury headache for Samp

Sampdoria head coach Ciro Ferrara faces a selection crisis ahead of his side's Serie A clash with Cagliari.

Defender Andrea Costa and goalkeeper Sergio Romero will both miss out due to suspension along with striker Maxi Lopez, while Serbian midfielder Nenad Krsticic has been ruled out for a month with an ankle injury.

To add to Ferrara's headache, midfielder Enzo Maresca is struggling with a muscle problem and Pedro Obiang is a doubt after he was struck down with flu.

"In midfield we have an emergency," Ferrara told the club's official website.

"Maresca will not recover for sure. Obiang has had the flu and we will evaluate him, although it must be said that he has not trained with the group for a while.

"(Midfielder Andrea) Poli is available instead, although he has not got the full 90 minutes in his legs."

Promoted Sampdoria are winless in their last five Serie A games and have lost their last three against Napoli, Chievo and Parma.

In contrast, Cagliari have won back-to-back games against Torino and Bologna - their only two victories of the season.

However, despite their poor results in recent weeks, Ferrara has played down their lack of points and believes they are due a slice of luck.

The Samp coach said: "We could have easily drawn the last few games and it would not be a scandal.

"Do not dramatise because we are eighth and some are behind us. Let us not forget where we came from."