Raffaele Palladino is pleased with how he has progressed at Juventus.

"It was tough at the start," the ex-Livorno man admitted. "After promotion from Serie B there was increased competition at Juve.

"Sadly we couldn't count on having the extra midweek games in Europe either, so it was inevitable that there would be less space in the side.

"Slowly but surely I have worked quietly to earn Claudio Ranieri's trust and to be chosen for the national team is a testament to my efforts in Serie A," he grinned.

"It was an enormous source of satisfaction, even if I returned to the bench before the winter break."

In order to play a part in Turin, Palladino has needed to be versatile and fill a variety of roles.

"I am naturally a second striker, but under Didier Deschamps I played as a winger," he explained.

"This season I have also learned to play as a trequartista, behind the strikers. It's important to adapt to different positions so that you can give your best."