Mirko Vučinić divides opinion even more readily than he could ever slice through a defence, his languid playing style - often so relaxed it makes Dimitar Berbatov look dedicated - frustrates as many observers as his incredible skill enraptures others. The Montenegrin striker goes from being 'Big Game Mirko' - a moniker bestowed upon him during his time at AS Roma, recognition for his penchant of scoring against Serie A's traditional giants - to being derided as a lazy player who rarely makes the effort expected of those at this level of the game.
Yet this opinion of him has been truly exposed as a myth since he left the Italian capital in late July, joining Juventus in a 15 million Euro move. His arrival in Turin followed closely that of Antonio Conte, a man who has continued to extol the same virtues he displayed as a player ever since hanging up his boots, donning a suit and taking a place on the bench as a coach. The former Bianconeri captain demands each of his players works as hard as he did in his time as a tireless and dedicated midfielder who won almost every trophy on offer in European football.
To the surprise of many Vučinić has embraced the work ethic of his new coach, not only registering two goals and three assists in his eleven league starts so far this term, but also displaying an appetite for defensive work few would have believed. As part of the intensive and relentless pressing game often demanded by Conte, the striker has become part of the oft-clichéd 'first line of defence' in many games, averaging 1.3 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per game.
Even more surprising is that both those numbers are significantly higher than his partner in the Juve attack, former Cagliari star Alessandro Matri averages just 0.3 tackles and 0.4 interceptions. Yet due to a number of factors - notably his profligacy in front of goal (he has taken 32 attempts to net those two goals) and low pass completion rate (just 73.6%, 19th worst at the club), he has recorded a WhoScored.com rating of only 6.93.
As Tuesday afternoon's training session came to a close however, news broke via the clubs official website that Vučinić had suffered a thigh injury that would keep him out of the side for approximately twenty days. After becoming such an integral part of Juve's early success a replacement must now be found and it is fortuitous that they have a Coppa Italia tie with Bologna on Thursday evening ahead of Monday's clash with Roma. That extra match should enable Conte to assess his options and find a solution as his team face up to four matches - encounters with Novara and Lecce follow this weeks games - without their number fourteen.
In recent weeks the coach has moved away from playing two strikers, with Vučinić occupying a left wing berth in a 4-3-3 formation, probably meaning iconic club captain Alessandro Del Piero, or even his fellow Italian World Cup winners Luca Toni and Vincenzo Iaquinta, will not be the men to step in. But, thanks to a busy summer in the transfer market, Director General Beppe Marotta has ensured there are a raft of options available.
Potential Replacements
Perhaps the two most likely alternatives are Emmanuele Giaccherini, who has impressed greatly since his move from Cesena and Paraguayan Marcelo Estigarribia, who recorded his first goal for the club in the dramatic 3-3 draw with Napoli last month. It remains the only strike between the pair who have also yet to provide an assist this term as both have started just two games, with the Italian's five further appearances as a substitute being just one more than his team-mate. There is very little between them defensively, both working hard to make six tackles each while Giaccherini has eight interceptions compared to Estigarribia's 5.
Should Conte decide to go with a more attack-minded replacement however, he has three players - all of which have barely featured this season - at his disposal. Due to a combination of injury, poor form and problems overcoming the language barrier, Juventus fans have yet to see a sustained run of games for any of three of the squad's more talented players with Fabio Quagliarella, Eljero Elia and Miloš Krasić more often than not forced to join those same supporters in the stands and watch on as others play bigger roles.
Conte maintains all three will have a role to play and now both they and the coach have an opportunity to prove it. Last season saw Quagliarella play a similar role to that now required in the absence of Vučinić, arguably with even greater success. Prior to rupturing ligaments in his knee the Italian had netted nine goals - and two assists - in the first seventeen games following his move from home-town club Napoli. He has, much like Krasić, been limited to cameo appearances from the bench while Dutch star Elia has yet to set foot on the pitch in an official game since leaving Hamburg SV on the last day of the transfer window.
It is one of these men to which Antonio Conte must now turn following the bad news that has robbed him and Juventus of Mirko Vučinić at least until Serie A resumes in 2012. Four games, five names, but can one of these players step up and help the Old Lady into the Winter Break? Their chance is here, who's ready to take it?
