Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 9y

Claudio Marchisio set to return for Juventus after knee injury

Claudio Marchisio is set to return to action for Juventus in their Coppa Italia semifinal tie with Fiorentina on Tuesday night just over a week after being told his season was over.

Marchisio, 29, was sent back to Turin by Italy's national team doctor Enrico Castellacci with a suspected anterior cruciate ligament tear.

An absence of between six to eight months was forecast and insults, including death threats, were directed at Italy coach Antonio Conte, accusing him of working the players too hard in training.

After further tests were carried out by Juve's medical team once Marchisio arrived back in Turin, the diagnosis altered dramatically.

Rather than a six-to-eight month break, he was told he would be back within six to eight days. Instead of a tear, he had only sprained his knee, and on Tuesday night he could be back in action for the Bianconeri.

"Claudio Marchisio is back in the group and he can be called upon for the trip to Fiorentina," said a statement on the Serie A club's website.

Juve head to Florence needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg last month, but coach Massimiliano Allegri is optimistic about his side's chances, launching a hashtag on Twitter -- #Iocicredo -- saying that he has faith in his side mounting a recovery to remain on course for three titles this season, alongside Serie A and the Champions League.

"Now bring on the Coppa Italia because #Ibelieve," he wrote.

Juventus are currently top of the Serie A table, 14 points clear of second-placed Roma with nine matches of the season to play.

^ Back to Top ^