Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has admitted that Paulo Dybala‘s struggles this season are down to a lack of minutes.

The Argentine playmaker has started only three of the Old Lady’s six games this season, as Allegri figures out how to fit his auxiliary attackers – Dybala, Mario Mandzukic, Douglas Costa and Federico Bernardeschi around summer recruit Cristiano Ronaldo.

Dybala and Ronaldo were expected to form a tantalising partnership, but that is yet to come to fruition even as the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star has shrugged off a slow start to life in Serie A to score three goals in his last two games, including a vital strike in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Frosinone.

Allegri says it’s just a matter of getting more playing time for Dybala to hit top form again.

“He needs to play. I’ve always said Paulo’s best physical attribute is his running,” Allegri told Sky Sport Italia after the match.

“He did some good things (on Sunday). But he has to play. His technique and dribbling is useful and it will get better with fitness.

“Dybala has no need to feel this performance anxiety. You can be the best player in the world, but if you’re not at 100 per cent mentally, the others will get to the ball faster.

“Mario Mandzukic is always first to the ball, but today he was a little less sharp because of fatigue, it’s natural.

“We were expecting a difficult game and that’s what we got. As the time advanced it got harder and harder to score a goal but we finally did thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo.”