Juventus Midfielder Eyes Comeback as Team Looks to Build on Recent Success

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is on the verge of returning to training after missing the World Cup due to a knee injury. The former Manchester United star has had a challenging season in Serie A, failing to make an impact and sidelined during France’s journey to the final in Qatar.

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri expressed optimism about having most of his squad fit by the end of the month, as the team has faced numerous injury issues this season. Despite a rocky start, the 36-time Italian champions have recently regained form, securing six consecutive league victories without conceding a goal, placing them third in the standings before the World Cup break.

“I hope to have everyone available in three weeks’ time,” Allegri stated during a press conference on Tuesday.

Pogba, who underwent knee surgery in September after injuring himself in pre-season, is making progress. “Pogba is running. The most important thing is that his knee isn’t swollen. If he continues like this over the next two to three weeks, he’ll be able to train with the squad,” Allegri noted. He also reported that players like Ángel Di María and Leandro Paredes are back and performing well, while he would assess Wojciech Szczesny’s fitness ahead of the upcoming match. Adrien Rabiot has returned from the World Cup eager to contribute, and Dusan Vlahovic is also in good form.

Despite being eliminated from the Champions League in the group stage and trailing Serie A leaders Napoli by 10 points, Allegri remains focused on silverware this season. “Napoli are clear favourites for the Scudetto, so our goal is to secure a top-four finish and make a deep run in the Coppa Italia and the Europa League,” he said.

Juventus will face Cremonese in their next Serie A fixture on Wednesday. While Cremonese has yet to win a league match this season, Allegri is cautious about complacency. “We’re starting up again tomorrow after a 52-day break, and it will be a tough match against a team that didn’t concede in their last two home games,” he warned.

“Cremonese create a lot of chances, so we need to approach the game with respect and humility. Substitutions will also be crucial,” Allegri added.