Italy will name their squad to face Spain and Israel later today, which is expected to include Federico Di Francesco, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Manolo Gabbiadini.
The Azzurri go into two decisive World Cup qualifiers next week.
They visit the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid for a top of the table showdown with Spain on September 2, then host Israel at Sassuolo’s Mapei Stadium on September 5.
Italy will name their squad to face Spain and Israel later today, which is expected to include Federico Di Francesco, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Manolo Gabbiadini.
The Azzurri go into two decisive World Cup qualifiers next week.
They visit the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid for a top of the table showdown with Spain on September 2, then host Israel at Sassuolo’s Mapei Stadium on September 5.
Coach Giampiero Ventura again looks set to ignore Napoli midfielder Jorginho, but Riccardo Montolivo should also be left out in favour of Inter’s Roberto Gagliarini and new Roma buy Pellegrini.
Leonardo Spinazzola is the favourite ahead of Mattia De Sciglio for left-back, despite refusing to play for Atalanta so far this season in a contract dispute, as he tries to force through a transfer to Juventus.
There could be a new face on the flanks, as Di Francesco – the 23-year-old son of Roma Coach Eusebio – continues to impress at Bologna with a great goal in the opening weekend.
In attack, Southampton forward Gabbiadini is expected to edge out Atalanta’s Andrea Petagna.
Probable Italy squad
GK: Buffon (Juventus), Donnarumma (Milan), Scuffet (Udinese)/Perin (Genoa)
D: Conti (Milan), D’Ambrosio (Inter), Zappacosta (Torino), Darmian (Man Utd), Spinazzola (Atalanta)/De Sciglio (Juventus), Bonucci (Milan), Chiellini (Juventus), Barzagli (Juventus), Rugani (Juventus), Astori (Fiorentina)
M: De Rossi (Roma), Verratti (PSG), Parolo (Lazio), Gagliardini (Inter), Pellegrini (Roma), Candreva (Inter), Insigne (Napoli), Di Francesco (Bologna), Bernardeschi (Juventus)
A: Belotti (Torino), Immobile (Lazio), Eder (Inter), Gabbiadini (Southampton)