Toni to start for Roma

The coach Claudio Ranieri assures playing him in the game against Chievo today after not being sure of his status and using him very late against Cagliari.

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Luca Toni will make his first start for Roma in today's home game against Chievo. The striker, who joined Serie A's fifth-placed club on loan until the end of the season after falling out of favour at Bayern Munich, had been expected to start Wednesday's 2-2 draw at Cagliari with Francesco Totti out injured, but he only came on in the closing stages. "He will play I will give you that in advance," said the Roma coach Claudio Ranieri. "I didn't expect to find him so ready, after an injury and only a few games, or that he would integrate so well in the dressing room."

In the day's other game the Inter captain Javier Zanetti may shift from midfield to defence against bottom side Siena to cover for Cristian Chivu, who fractured his skull in the leaders' 1-0 win at Chievo Verona on Wednesday. Club officials said the Romania international was recovering well after surgery but it was too early to say when he would be able to play again. Napoli signed left back Andrea Dossena yesterday, ending his two years of misery at Liverpool with a deal that runs until 2014. The 28-year-old joined the Premier League side from Udinese in 2008 but fell out of favour with manager Rafael Benitez, losing his place in the Italy squad in the process.

* With agencies Inter v Siena, 11.45pm, Aljazeera Sport +1