Giovinco back in Italy squad as Balotelli and Belotti miss out

Sebastian Giovinco is back in the Italy squad after three years away, but Mario Balotelli and Andrea Belotti miss out.

Giovinco is finally rewarded for his blistering form with Toronto FC, where he has scored 82 goals in just 139 appearances.

The 31-year-old last played for Italy in October 2015, appearing for the final 28 minutes of Italy’s 2-1 win against Norway in Euro 2016 qualifying.

Balotelli and Belotti pay the price for their slow starts to the season, but Sampdoria winger Gianluca Caprari is handed a first-ever call-up after good early form.

Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti and Roma’s Alessandro Florenzi are recalled, while Inter defender Danilo D’Ambrosio capitalises on injuries to Mattia Caldara and Daniele Rugani.

Italy face Ukraine in a friendly on October 10, before taking on Nations League rivals Poland four days later.

Italy squad to face Ukraine and Poland: 

Goalkeepers: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Mattia Perin (Juventus), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino); 

Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Danilo D’Ambrosio (Inter), Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Alessio Romagnoli (Milan); 

Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Cagliari), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Roberto Gagliardini (Inter), Jorginho (Chelsea), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain); 

Forwards: Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Gianluca Caprari (Sampdoria), Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Patrick Cutrone (Milan), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Simone Zaza (Torino)