Cremonese coach Nicola gives injury update on Vardy and Payero for Week 4

VERONA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 15: Jamie Vardy of US Cremonese looks on during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and US Cremonese at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on September 15, 2025 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Cremonese coach Davide Nicola confirms Jamie Vardy and Martin Payero are out against Parma, warning the Ducali ‘won’t be in the relegation battle’ this season.

It kicks off at the Stadio Zini on Sunday at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT).

The Seahorses are unbeaten in their three Serie A games so far this season, earning victories over Milan and Sassuolo before the draw at Verona.

Vardy made his debut in that match, but picked up a muscular injury, ruling him out along with Payero and Jeremy Sarmiento.

Cremonese struggling with fitness issues

“We want to get Vardy and Sarmiento settled in as quickly as possible, but must also be wary we don’t over-do it,” said Nicola in his press conference.

“The training we’d been doing risked becoming unsustainable, so we gave them another type of exercise to avoid further problems. They will continue their personalised schedule, but Barbieri can finally get back into the squad after a long time out.

“Payero is at 80 per cent, he’ll be back next week.”

The Cremonese coach tried to pour all the pressure on to Parma going into tomorrow’s match and the rest of the campaign.

“I studied Parma and there are some teams who have nothing to do with our objectives, with Parma as one of them. They won’t be in the relegation battle this season.

“They have been built well with strong investments, I like coach Carlos Cuesta, and he has given the team a precise tactical identity.

“I said the same about Como last season and this year I say it about Parma.”

Cremonese squad for Parma: Audero, Silvestri, Nava; Pezzella, Barbieri, Baschirotto, Bianchetti, Floriani Mussolini, Ceccherini, Terracciano, Faye, Folino; Zerbin, Collocolo, Vandeputte, Grassi, Bondo, Lordkipanidze; Johnsen, Moumbagna, Vazquez, Bonazzoli, Sanabria.