Juventus winger Simone Pepe has admitted that making his first appearance for the club in more than a year was an "emotional" experience for him.

Having played in the 3-0 Coppa Italia win over Avellino, Pepe now said that the next step is getting back to form so he can compete for a regular place in the side.

"It's been a long way back but I feel I can say the nightmare is finally over," he told the club's official website. "I need to work to regain full fitness and reach the same levels as my teammates.

"I'm not one who easily gets emotional, but I must admit I felt it when I heard the crowd's roar tonight. I need to thank the fans, as well as my family and teammates, for supporting me throughout.

"I think this team has developed even further since I was last in action, especially from a psychological point of view. There's a long way to go, but we could certainly enjoy a satisfying season. Juventus have everything in place to do so."

Juventus are currently top of Serie A.