Juventus: McKennie Back, Cambiaso Still Out for NEC Clash

Juventus have McKennie back and Cambiaso still out for their Europa League opener against NEC on Thursday, with Luciano Spalletti forced to call up three players from the club's Next Gen side.

McKennie missed the trip to Parma, and the loss to Sassuolo with muscle fatigue after starting the campaign opener against Frosinone.

Cambiaso trained alongside him but has not recovered in time. The full-back had come on as a substitute against Frosinone and Parma before an ankle problem ruled him out against Milan and Sassuolo, and he remains unavailable.

Juventus name ten players out in total. Kenan Yildiz, Khéphren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli face lengthy spells — Thuram had knee surgery in Lyon and Locatelli could be out three to four months after a meniscus injury suffered against Milan. Juan Cabal, Jérémie Boga and Emanuel Ekhator are also sidelined through injury. Lloyd Kelly serves a one-match ban, while Edon Zhegrova — who scored twice against Sassuolo — and Arkadiusz Milik were left off Juventus' UEFA squad list altogether.

With the squad stretched thin, Spalletti has called up three players from Juventus Next Gen: Destiny Elimoghale, Owusu and Pagnucco. Elimoghale, 17, is a versatile attacker included in a first-team squad for the first time. According to reports in Italy, Nick Woltemade is set for his first start in a Juventus shirt, though it remains unclear whether he replaces Randal Kolo Muani or plays alongside him.

The match follows, and Spalletti's side arrive at their first European fixture of the season already patching a squad hit hard by injuries — a run that began with the Thuram and Cabal blows and has since claimed Locatelli as well.