Buffon back after lengthy absence

Gianluigi Buffon will resume training at Juventus’ Vinovo base on Tuesday for the first time in four months.

Buffon, 32, hasn’t played for Juve since suffering a serious back injury in Italy’s opening World Cup game against Paraguay in South Africa in July.

The club has now confirmed that Buffon, whose recent absence away from the squad has caused some uncertainty over his future, will continue his recovery in the presence of teammates.

Although Buffon will still be a firm fixture at the Isokinetic Centre in Bologna for his physiotherapy sessions, he will now start work on a personalised fitness programme with ‘keeper coach Claudio Filippi.

Buffon, who has been replaced in the Juve goal by Marco Storari, is set to return to first team action in January if all goes well.

Buffon has played 95 times for his country and in his prolonged absence he has been linked with moves to both Manchester United and Arsenal.

“I think eventually I will stay at Juventus,” Buffon said.

Buffon added that Storari “deserves to be in the national team”.

“I’m getting better and by December I will be able to join the team, which is already a great achievement,” he said.

“When I am at my best physical condition I will come back into contention and the coach will decide who to pick.”