Juventus coach Luigi Del Neri said yesterday he expects goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to return from injury in January.

Italy number one Buffon is recovering from a back operation after suffering a herniated disc during the World Cup in South Africa in June.

His failure to appear at the club’s training ground Vinovo on Friday for the team photo led some to speculate that he will be leaving the club in January.

Buffon later explained that he was at an award ceremony.

“He’s working to recover, he’s busy overcoming his injury. He wasn’t the only one missing so let’s not make a huge drama,” said Del Neri, who admitted however that Buffon has not come to Vinovo for months.

“Maybe he could have come occasionally. Maybe he wasn’t aware of his absence but we were. I hope he’ll come and lend a hand in this tough time with many injuries.

“I’ve spoken to him on the phone, he’s recovering, he needs time but we hope to have him in January.”