Juventus boost as Çelik and McKennie close in on returns before Fiorentina trip

Juventus have been given a boost before Sunday’s trip to Fiorentina, with Zeki Çelik and Weston McKennie both returning to partial team training.

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the pair took part in some of Friday’s session at the Continassa with the rest of the squad. Juve’s medical staff will monitor them over the next couple of days before deciding whether either can be involved at the Artemio Franchi.

McKennie picked up a muscle problem in last Sunday’s 2-0 win over Napoli and missed Thursday’s 2-1 Europa League victory at AZ Alkmaar. Çelik has been out with a hamstring injury, and was originally expected to be sidelined until after the international break.

Luciano Spalletti’s side are slowly finding their feet after a difficult spell. Back-to-back defeats, at home to Lazio and away at Genoa, put real pressure on the coach. Juve responded by spending two days on retreat at the J Hotel before the Napoli game, and have now won two in a row.

They are seventh in Serie A on 17 points after 10 games, and they’re unbeaten in the Europa League, where they are well placed for a top-eight finish.

Fiorentina picked up only their second league win of the season at Sassuolo on Monday, with Paolo Vanoli’s side winning 4-2.