Zhegrova Pushes for a Bigger Role at Juventus After Scoring for Kosovo

Edon Zhegrova is enjoying a strong start to the season. His penalty against Austria could not prevent Kosovo’s 3–1 defeat, but it underlined his good form. According to the figures in the Calciomercato report, the Juventus winger has three goals and one assist in his first six appearances. Two of those goals came against Sassuolo. Zhegrova scored twice to bring Juventus back into the match, though Sassuolo eventually won 3–2. www.reuters.com He then provided the assist for Bremer’s goal against Atalanta. His performances make a case for more playing time under Luciano Spalletti. Injuries disrupted Zhegrova’s previous season and kept him from finding a consistent role. This season, he has yet to start any of Juventus’s first five Serie A matches, but he is making an impact when called upon. In Spalletti’s 4-2-3-1 system, Zhegrova is competing for minutes on the right wing, where Francisco Conceição is his main rival. Left out of Juventus’s Europa League league-phase squad, the Kosovo international can focus on Serie A and the Coppa Italia. The next challenge is to turn this promising run into a regular place in Juventus’s attack.