Chiellini keeps Ranieri on edge

Chiellini keeps Ranieri on edge
Friday 3 October, 2008

Claudio Ranieri is waiting on injury news from Giorgio Chiellini and Vincenzo Iaquinta, but may have to field his sixth defensive line-up in six games.

The Juventus Coach has been dealing with a succession of injuries this season and Chiellini suffered a recurrence of a knee problem in training on Thursday.

The official club website confirmed late fitness tests will be needed on both the former Fiorentina defender and striker Vincenzo Iaquinta before Sunday’s match with Palermo.

Nicola Legrottaglie, Jonathan Zebina, Cristiano Zanetti and David Trezeguet are certain absentees, though Gianluigi Buffon should be back.

This means Ranieri would have precious few options and could introduce the all-new central defensive partnership of Olof Mellberg and Dario Knezevic.

It would be the sixth different line-up at the back for Juventus in as many Serie A games.

Due to a number of issues, the first choice duo of Chiellini and Legrottaglie have only played together for two of the last seven official encounters, the 1-0 win over Zenit and 1-1 draw with Catania.

Added to these matches are the opening 18 minutes of this week’s Champions League 2-2 at BATE Borisov before Legrottaglie limped off.

Legrottaglie is not expected back on the for at least three weeks due to that muscular problem

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