Arsenal target Federico Chiesa makes long-awaited return to training with Juventus after serious knee injury forced nine-month layoff
- Chiesa suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Roma in January
- The knee injury kept the 24-year-old Juventus star out of action for nine months
- The Italian forward made his much-anticipated return to training on Monday
- Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Chiesa prior to his injury setback
Juventus forward Federico Chiesa made his return to training with Juventus after nine-months out with a serious knee injury.
The Italian was linked with a move to Arsenal prior to his setback, after a spell of superb form for club and country.
Chiesa suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the Old Lady’s clash with Roma in January, just as his stock was rising following a superb showing in Italy’s Euro 2020 success last summer.
Federico Chiesa suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Roma back in January
Juventus’ medical team attended to Chiesa who was subsequently sidelined for nine months
Juventus’ official website said: “Federico Chiesa began a partial and gradual return to the group today.”
The news will be a welcome sight to Juventus supporters who have seen their side make a stuttering start to the season.
It remains to be seen whether Chiesa can make a return to the pitch before the World Cup kicks off in November.
Italy failed to qualify for the showpiece tournament in Qatar, giving the talented 24-year-old enough time to get himself up to speed for the resumption of Serie A on January 4 – almost a year to the day that the injury occurred.
Juventus will be hoping they are still in the Champions League by the time Chiesa regains full fitness.
Under-pressure boss Max Allegri will be hoping to see Chiesa back on the pitch soon for Juve
Chiesa was instrumental in helping Italy win Euro 2020 at the expense of England at Wembley
Max Allegri’s men currently sit third in group H having lost both of their games so far against Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica.
Juventus face off against group minnows Maccabi Haifa in Turin on Wednesday before the return match in Israel next week and will need to pick up six points to have any chance of making the knockout stages in the spring.
Sandwiched in between both games is a mammoth trip to champions AC Milan in Serie A on Saturday afternoon.
Juve find themselves in seventh place, seven points adrift of leaders Napoli and a win at the San Siro next weekend would instil some much-needed belief in the 20-time Scudetto winners.
Goals from Flip Kostic, Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik helped fire Juventus to a 3-0 win at home to Bologna on Sunday evening.
