Juventus' Pepe sidelined for long spell

BARI, ITALY – JULY 21: Simone Pepe of Juventus in action during the match between AC Milan and FC Juventus as part of the TIM preseason tournament at Stadio San Nicola on July 21, 2012 in Bari, Italy.

Rome, Dec 8 – Italian Serie A football club Juventus said their utility player Simone Pepe will be “out of action for a long time” after suffering a second tear to his left thigh muscle.

Juve said in a statement Friday, that Pepe, 29, who had returned to make a 20-minute against Lazio last month following months on the sideline with the first injury, had suffered a setback, reports Xinhua.

“Pepe will have to be out of action for a long time yet. Over the last few days, the player suffered a new muscular problem at the semi-membrane level of the left thigh,” the statement read.

“It is a I-II degree lesion in the area of the previous lesion, which had healed. To avoid further setbacks, he will have a period of complete rest and treatment, so will only return when his condition is completely healed,” said the statement.

The injury will be a blow to Juve coach Antonio Conte, because Pepe had been set to deputise for Kwadwo Asamoah when the Ghanaian heads to the African Nations Cup next month.