Juve's Marchisio sidelined ahead of City clash
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| AFP |
Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has been ruled out of the Turin giants' trip to Manchester City with a suspected hamstring injury that could sideline him for a month.
Marchisio only returned from an absence of several weeks on Saturday when he started for the Italian champions at home to Chievo, only to be replaced at half-time by Paul Pogba.
Marchisio posted a message on his Twitter page which confirmed earlier reports of his injury, the Italy midfielder writing: "Tomorrow (Monday) I'll undergo further tests on my right thigh. I hope it's nothing serious."
Marchisio's absence has given coach Massimiliano Allegri a selection headache ahead of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League group opener at the City of Manchester Stadium, with Brazilian Hernanes, used as the playmaker on Saturday, expected to retreat to the 'regista' role in front of the defence, as he did on Saturday when Pogba came on to replace Marchisio for the second half.
Juventus, beaten in last season's Champions League final by Barcelona, have endured a tough start to the defence of their Serie A title. The Turin giants suffered defeat in their opening two games, to Udinese and Roma, before collecting their first point of the season in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Chievo.
Juventus had never lost their opening two games in Serie A, and their current league standing of 16th is their worst, after three league games, since the 1962/63 campaign.