Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba will not make his long-awaited comeback when his side host Lazio in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals on Thursday, coach Massimiliano Allegri said, but striker Dusan Vlahovic is likely to start.
Both Pogba and Vlahovic are returning from lengthy injury absences and were named on the bench in Serie A on Sunday, after they took part in a friendly against a Juventus reserve team earlier last week.
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Vlahovic, who had not played for Juve since October, came on for Mattia De Sciglio in the 65th minute of their shock home 2-0 defeat by Monza. Pogba, who has yet to play a game this season, was an unused substitute.
“Apart from [Leonardo] Bonucci who is still out, the only one who won’t be available due to a flexor soreness is Pogba,” Allegri told a news conference on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately when you’re out for a long time and you raise the intensity level, you get pain… Maybe in a few weeks he’ll be in top condition.
