Paul Pogba is available for Juventus’ Serie A clash with Monza after recovering from a long-term knee injury, coach Massimiliano Allegri said on Saturday.
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French midfielder Pogba has not played a game for Juventus since returning from Manchester United last summer, injuring the meniscus in his right knee in July and missing the World Cup.
He was initially chosen not to go under the knife in the championship field in the Qatar tournament, but although he later changed his mind, he could not recover in time to play for Les Bleus who lost the crown as world champions in a thrilling final against Argentina.
Pogba will be in the matchday squad alongside Dusan Vlahovic who is back from a groin injury that has kept the Serbian striker out since early December.
“Tomorrow Vlahovic and Pogba will be available,” Allegri told reporters.
“He feels good… I think Vlahovic is in a better condition than Pogba, but the last few days Paul has made progress.”
Allegri added that Pogba, who returned to team training for the first time since October earlier this month, will only have a maximum of half an hour on the Allianz Stadium pitch if he is brought on for Sunday’s game.
“If he is in the squad, it means he can play. It is clear that his legs do not have 60 minutes, the most is 30,” he said.
It has been a difficult season for Pogba as he has also been involved in an alleged extortion scheme involving his own brother.
US midfielder Weston McKennie will not feature as he is close to signing for Leeds United in England, Allegri has admitted.
“It doesn’t make sense for him to be in the squad tomorrow because I’m sure both clubs have an agreement,” he said.
“I don’t know if the deal will be finalized but he has been put on the transfer market so we haven’t got him in the squad.”
Allegri will also be without Italian striker Federico Chiesa who is resting with a thigh problem after returning from a serious knee injury.
“Chiesa is not available because he has a problem with his thigh which he had an operation on, but this is normal after 10 months, something like that can happen,” Allegri said.
“But it will only be for a few days because he will return to Lazio on Thursday.”
Juventus sit 11th in Serie A after being docked 15 points for illegal transfer activity and will be overtaken by promoted Monza if the Turin giants lose to the club owned by Silvio Berlusconi as they did in September.