Juventus keeper Gigi Buffon has acknowledged that his side can keep winning without him. The injured World Cup winner has been out of the side since the start of October, with Austrian international Alex Manninger taking his place.

The Turin club is enjoying a great run of form and Buffon is hoping that continues in the lead-up to his return.

"I will be back in the New Year and I want us to be second so that I can be the one to lead us to first," Buffon joked.

"Seriously, six consecutive wins between Serie A and the Champions League have shown that Buffon is not indispensible for Juventus - that is a fact."