Sissoko close to return for Juve

Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko said on Sunday that he hasn't long left to go before returning from injury and should be available for the Champions League preliminary matches.

The 23-year-old Mali international injured his right thigh on June 1 playing for the national team against Congo.

The former Liverpool player – who moved to Juventus in January for a fee of 11million euros – told La Gazzetta Sportiva that following a summer break filled with recovery work he is nearly back to 100percent.

“I should start playing again soon, but the doctors have told me I have to take it one step at a time.

“I don't think there will be problems. I'll say again, I'm fine, but if it's possible, I'll speed up my recovery,” he said.

Sissoko, who prior to playing for Liverpool played for Valencia under Rafael Benitez where he won the UEFA Cup and league title in his first season, will stay in Italy for the start of Juventus' Champions League campaign, rather than return to his home country for an international friendly on August 20.

However, he is keen to be present for the 2010 World Cup qualifier against Congo on September 7.

“It's only a friendly, I'm not obliged to go and there's the Champions League preliminaries. I'll go in September for the World Cup qualifiers though,” he said.

Sissoko is also looking forward to linking up alongside the Turin club's new midfield signing, Christian Poulsen, who completed his 9.5 million Euro transfer from Sevilla over the weekend.

“We have different characteristics. I think with some work we can integrate well, it's not a case of doubling up,” he commented.