Juventus' Simone Pepe sidelined for long spell after injury

Rome: 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. Juventus 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.

Juventus\' Simone Pepe will be out of action for a long time after suffering a second tear to his left thigh muscle.

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

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