'Good signs' Cristiano Ronaldo will return for Champions League clash with Ajax – Allegri

Cristiano Ronaldo has been out of action for several weeks after picking up a thigh injury on international duty but the prolific forward looks set to return for Juventus for their Champions League quarter final against Ajax.

Ronaldo's performances in the black and white of Juve this season suggest that Father Time is having minimal impact on his mind-boggling goal output, but the Portuguese is still subject to the same wear and tear as his peers, as he was withdrawn in the first half of his national team's 1-1 draw with Serbia on March 25. 

With Juventus currently 18 points clear at the summit of Serie A and requiring just two more wins to secure their eight consecutive Scudetto, the club's focus has shifted somewhat to their Champions League pursuit.

And with Ronaldo crucial to those plans, the club's medical department have been working to make sure he is ready for Wednesday's first leg quarter-final against Ajax.

"Ronaldo is better," Allegri said at a press conference ahead of Saturday's game against AC Milan.

"Five days from Amsterdam there are good signs. He is doing everything to be there, and we hope to have him available, but he won't be included tomorrow in the squad to face Milan."

Ajax scored a stunning upset to eliminate holders Real Madrid in the last round of the competition and will fancy their chances at another against-the-odds victory if Ronaldo is shorn from Juventus' starting line-up. 

No player in history has had more of an impact on the Europe's premiere club competition. He is the top scorer in Champions League history and has collected five winner's medals up to this point in his illustrious career. 

Juventus, though, haven't won the competition since 1996 and have lost a remarkable seven finals - most recently in 2015 and 2017 - and if their top marksman isn't at full fitness, the task of winning a first Champions League in two decades may be a bridge too far for The Old Lady.