Massimiliano Allegri remains uncertain about when Paul Pogba will return from injury, following his latest setback.
The France midfielder has endured a rough time of things since returning to Juve from Manchester United last July, having managed to play for just 34 minutes across two substitute appearances.
It seemed like injury problems were over for Pogba when playing in back-to-back games against Torino and Roma on February 28 and March 5, both times as a substitute.
But it took another turn as he missed Juve’s next match, a Europa League tie with Freiburg, due to turning up late for a team meeting.
The 29-year-old has not been on the pitch since, with his latest setback coming via a fresh muscular problem while taking free-kicks in training.
Giving an update on Pogba’s fitness ahead of Juve’s return to Serie A action against Hellas Verona on Saturday, Allegri appeared to once again rule out the midfielder.
Allegri remains unsure about Pogba’s return from injury
“At the moment, I don’t know when he will be available again,” Allegri said at Friday’s pre-match press conference. “He’s working, but at the moment it’s difficult to say.
“The adductor is fine, but we’re waiting to see how his knee will react after taking part in training.”
Allegri’s side were handed a 15-point deduction ban in January, but they have won six of their past seven Serie A games, meaning they are now back within seven points of the top four.
Juve have five league games in April, as well as a meeting with Sporting CP in the Europa League quarter-finals and the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final against Inter.
“Our aim is to win as many games as possible in order to have a wonderful May,” Allegri said of his side’s congested April programme.
“This is the schedule and we have to manage it the best way possible. We’re heading towards a beautiful but tiring end to the season and must continue playing with enthusiasm.”
Despite the troubles on and off the pitch that Juve have suffered this term, they still boast a good chance of ending this season on a high, if they can somehow finish in the top-four and maybe go all the way in the Europa League.
For Pogba, his season continues to go from bad to worse and it is now a question of if he will remain the same player that he once was, following his return from injury.
