McKennie from Juventus outcast to Champions League start | OneFootball

Weston McKennie had been frozen out by Juventus over the summer and practically sold to Aston Villa, but now he’s starting their Champions League opener with PSV Eindhoven.

It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 17.45 UK time (16.45 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Milan-Liverpool on the LIVEBLOG.

There are some surprises in the starting XI chosen by coach Thiago Motta, above all the presence of McKennie in the midfield with Manuel Locatelli.

This sends summer signings Khephren Thuram and Douglas Luiz to the bench, with the USMNT player chosen in their place.

McKennie keeps rebooting Juventus career

It is particularly curious to see him preferred to Douglas Luiz when McKennie had been effectively sold to Aston Villa as part of the deal bringing the Brazilian to Turin.

When he failed to agree personal terms, Enzo Barrenechea was added into the package deal instead with cash and Samuel Iling-Junior.

The 26-year-old American had been frozen out following that failed transfer, but as he had done before with Max Allegri, he managed to convince Thiago Motta in training that he deserved another chance.

Even then, his only appearance of the season so far has been for 23 minutes off the bench against Roma in Serie A Matchday 3.

His last start was the Coppa Italia Final victory over Atalanta on May 15.