How Juventus could line up against Udinese

Following the predictable departure of Andrea Pirlo as head coach earlier this summer, Juventus have turned to former boss Max Allegri in pursuit of a return to winning ways in 2021-22, and get the new season underway at Udinese this weekend.

Allegri will have been delighted that the Bianconeri have brought in one of the stars of Italy's successful Euro 2020 campaign, Manuel Locatelli after a long pursuit, and the ex-Sassuolo midfielder is available for selection on Sunday.

Should he be considered ready to start, his debut would be particularly timely, as Juve actually have a shortage of experienced bodies in the engine room, with Weston McKennie - recently signed on a permanent deal after last term's loan - ruled out due to suspension and two of his regular colleagues missing through injury.

French midfielder Adrien Rabiot is sidelined with a muscular issue picked up during pre-season, while Arthur - whose first year in Turin could hardly be described as a success - is out for several weeks yet with a knee injury.

For that reason, Aaron Ramsey could make a rare start in a deeper role alongside engine room mainstay Rodrigo Bentancur, with Locatelli or his Azzurri teammate Federico Bernardeschi poised to fill the other spot in Allegri's likely 4-3-3.

The attacking triumvirate in such a lineup would probably feature another Euros success story, Federico Chiesa, in support of current Capocannoniere Cristiano Ronaldo and a now fully fit Paulo Dybala - as fielded in last week's friendly win over Atalanta. However, Dejan Kulusevski and Alvaro Morata are also among the rich final-third options available to the Old Lady.

Ahead of established number one Wojciech Szczesny, the central defensive pairing is likely to comprise Leonardo Bonucci and either his long-time partner Giorgio Chiellini or pretender to the throne, Matthijs de Ligt.

Juventus possible starting lineup: Szczesny; Danilo, De Ligt, Bonucci, Sandro; Bentancur, Ramsey, Locatelli; Chiesa, Dybala, Ronaldo