Rudiger: This injury crisis is unbelievable but we must fight

Rudiger made his first start for the Giallorossi in five months against Empoli on Sunday, having played 12 minutes in the midweek win over Sassuolo a few days earlier.

Still building his fitness after surgery on a knee injury, the defender could now be set for a run of games for the first-team - with injuries elsewhere leaving coach Luciano Spalletti short of options.

The man himself says he is ready for the physical and mental demands should he be selected, as Roma prepare to face Austria Wien in the Europa League on Thursday night.

“I'm ready to play tomorrow and I hopefully it will go well," Rudiger said. "Obviously it's up to the boss but personally I feel totally up to starting the game. I'm feeling more and more confident and I hope to improve on my performance at Empoli.”

He added: “It's unbelievable that we've had all these injuries – incredibly bad luck. As soon as I came back [Alessandro] Florenzi did his cruciate. It's absurd. We can't be sitting here feeling sorry for ourselves though. We have to respond and start by winning our game tomorrow."

Roma drew 3-3 with Austria when the sides faced off in Matchday 3 of the group stage, after letting a two-goal lead slip in the closing stages.

The Germany international reiterated that the team have lofty targets for this competition - but acknowledged that they would have to show greater quality and consistency then they managed in the last meeting between these two sides if they are to deliver on those aims.

“When a team like Roma starts out in a competition like this you're not aiming to come second but to win it," he said. "Having said that, we know we must do better than we did in the reverse fixture at the Olimpico: we have to play well for the whole 90 minutes without easing off at all.”