Pogba suffers latest injury ahead of his second Juventus debut

• Paul Pogba is yet to make his second debut for Juventus despite switching from Manchester United last summer
• Pogba has been sidelined due to different injuries, and he has suffered yet another setback
• The midfielder will have to wait a little longer after sustaining yet another injury

Paul Pogba will have to wait for his second Juventus debut after another injury prevented him from playing in Thursday’s Coppa Italia quarterfinal against Lazio.

Due to a string of setbacks, the France international has yet to play for Juve since returning from Manchester United at the beginning of the season.

He suffered a preseason knee injury that necessitated surgery and forced him to miss the entire current season as well as France’s World Cup campaign.

For last week’s Serie A match against Monza, Pogba was back on the replacements’ bench, but Allegri chose not to use him as Juve suffered a shocking 2-0 defeat at the Allianz Stadium.

Paul Pogba is yet to make his second debut for Serie A side Juventus since rejoining from Manchester United with injuries delaying his comeback. | PHOTO: Reuters |

Allegri confirmed at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference that the 29-year-old is now nursing another minor issue that will rule him out of the visit of Lazio.

“I haven’t decided anything tomorrow in terms of the squad, apart from [Leonardo] Bonucci, who is still out, and Pogba due to flexor soreness,” Allegri said.

“Unfortunately, when you’ve been out for so many months and raise the intensity level, pain comes, and more time is needed.”

Pogba, who signed a four-year contract with Juventus, has not played a competitive game since his former club, United’s 4-0 Premier League loss to Liverpool last April.

“It takes time. Nobody can work miracles,” Allegri said. “His body must adapt. We must use him wisely and in the right moment when he is ready.”

In better news for Juve, Allegri confirmed Dusan Vlahovic will start his first game since October after returning as a substitute last week.

“Vlahovic will start, but I have to decide on the others,” he said. “The game could last 120 minutes, so subs will be important. I’ll decide the line-up after tomorrow’s training.”

Juventus were docked 15 points last month following an investigation into the club’s past transfer dealings and are now 15 points off the top four after last week’s loss to Monza.

The Bianconeri turn focus to the Coppa Italia next – a competition they last won in the 2020-21 season – and Allegri is hoping to put the club’s points deduction to one side.

“The points deduction should not be an excuse for bad results,” he said. “We must go on the pitch and do what’s required.

“It may be the first time a team has been docked 15 points, but we must handle this situation in the best way. We’ll do our best in the Coppa Italia.”