Injured Juventus Superstar Returns to the Squad List | OneFootball

Juventus are welcoming back Teun Koopmeiners for the midweek game against Parma. Thiago Motta anticipated his return in the pre-match presser, and the Dutchman indeed made the squad list. He missed the last three matches due to a slightly dislocated rib fracture he suffered against RB Leipzig.

According to La Stampa, the midfielder has been fitted with a special carbon-fiber vest to protect him from further blows. Manuel Locatelli went through something similar last season.

Koopmeiners is expected to begin on the bench on Wednesday. Manuel Locatelli, Weston McKennie, and Khephren Thuram are the frontrunners to start. Douglas Luiz remains on the mend with a minor thigh issue.

The 26-year-old has yet to score following a €55M move from Atalanta, but he quickly earned an essential role in Thiago Motta’s formation. After playing one half as a sub in his debut, he starred for six uninterrupted matches, logging full minutes until he bowed out at the interval versus Cagliari due to the consequences of the recent injury. The Bianconeri struggled to beat a ten-man Lazio, lost to Stuttgart, and drew 4-4 with Inter sans him.

Our Take on Koopmeiners

They made do with what they had, as their coach’s system is fairly malleable, but, even though he’s not been superb and clutch in the final third, they were a lot more cohesive with him pulling the strings. It took him no time to assert himself as their best ball-handler and creator. The enigma for the gaffer is how to best utilize him, as they need his services both in the build-up from the back and near the box. They can go back to working on Nicolò Fagioli for the first duties now.