(Reuters) – Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said Paul Pogba’s fitness will be assessed ahead of Juventus’ Europa League last-16 first leg against Freiburg on Thursday as the midfielder hopes to make his first start since returning from injury.
After missing the first half of the campaign through injury, Pogba, who rejoined Juventus from Manchester United in the close-season, made his second debut for the club in their 4-2 win over Torino last month as a substitute.
He came off the bench again on Sunday in their 1-0 defeat to AS Roma in Serie A.
“Yesterday Pogba did a good training session, today he rested, tomorrow morning we will know if he is available. Today he didn’t work with the team: I think he’s available, but we’ll see,” Allegri told a news conference.
Twice European champions Juventus have lost just one of their last 20 Europa League games, before hosting Freiburg in Turin.
“Tomorrow we want to lay the foundations for the second leg,” he added.
“They are physically strong, they are fifth in Germany, they are unbeaten in Europe. We have to get back to winning ways at home.”
(Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City; Editing by Toby Davis)
