Juventus lose Manninger for 15-20 days

Juventus’s second-choice goalkeeper Alex Manninger has been ruled out for between 15 and 20 days with an injury to his right thigh, the Turin club announced on Monday.

The Austrian had been deputising for Italian international Gianluigi Buffon, who is also currently sidelined with a thigh injury, but was forced to pull out of his side’s 3-3 draw at home to Siena on Sunday at the last minute.

Manninger’s withdrawal meant a rare start for third-choice goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti, who will be 40 in June.

With Buffon not expected to return until March 25, Chimenti is now set to feature in Juve’s Europa League last-16 second-leg match at Fulham on Thursday and the league game at Sampdoria on Sunday.

Uruguayan defender Martin Caceres, on loan from Barcelona, has also been laid low by an abdominal problem.

The likely duration of his unavailability is not yet known.