Andrea Mandorlini bemoans Luca Toni absence

Hellas Verona manager Andrea Mandorlini has admitted that his side are struggling to cope with the loss of Luca Toni, after their poor start to the season.

The Gialloblu have not won any of their Serie A matches in the current campaign, with a 2-0 defeat to Bologna on Saturday leaving them 19th in the table and five points adrift of safety.

Mandorlini has also been unable to field veteran striker Toni for the past six weeks due to a knee injury, and the absence of their leading marksman has seen the club score just eight league goals.

"We had prepared for the game well, but going two down hit us very hard," Mandorlini told Sky Sport Italia.

"It was difficult for us on a psychological level, we definitely missed the presence of Luca Toni up front.

"It will be an uphill battle for us, if we lose this many games then there is obviously a real problem."

Toni was the joint top scorer in Serie A last season, netting 22 goals alongside Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi.