Report: Martín Cáceres to return to Juventus squad after the international break

There wasn't much Stephan Lichtsteiner could have done to prevent his current absence from the Juventus squad. However, the same can't be said for Martín Cáceres, who has now been suspended for a little more than a week after his latest mishap between the wheel of his car on the streets of Turin.

With Lichtsteiner out for the next month or so — and nobody should be mad if it's more than that because you don't mess around with heart conditions/surgeries — Cáceres was looked at as an easy replacement at right back. Then he went and decided to get behind the wheel after having a little bit too much to drink that night. And ever since the suspension was announced on Sept. 29, we've all wondered when Cáceres would in fact make his return to the squad.

The Gazzetta dello Sport seems to think they know when that will be.

A report from the GDS late Monday says that Cáceres, who has started two of Juve's seven Serie A games this season, will return from his suspension when the current international break comes to an end next weekend. That just so happens to be when Juventus face a little team some like to call Inter Milan at the San Siro in the first official derby of the season for the four-time defending league champions.

Of course, having a more natural right back would allow Max Allegri to tinker and rotate his squad moving forward. Regardless of what Andrea Barzagli has done in the quasi 3-5-2/4-3-3 formation in the last two games — both wins over Sevilla and Bologna — Cáceres' return would free up Allegri to net rely so heavily on Barzagli, who has obviously had so many injury troubles in the last couple of years.

But, remember, this is the Gazzetta saying Cáceres — who's currently out on international duty with Uruguay — will be back after the international break. "Temporary suspension" may mean he's back for the Derby d'Italia, it may not. But it will be nice to have another defender around with so many games awaiting Allegri and Juve after the international break.