Antonio Conte hands Italy recall to Mario Balotelli

Italy manager Antonio Conte has brought Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli back into his squad for the games against Croatia and Albania.

Balotelli missed out on a spot in the squad in October after a poor start to the season, but he has been welcomed back by Conte, despite continuing to struggle in the early stages of his stay at Anfield.

Southampton forward Graziano Pelle keeps his place as one of the four strikers selected by Conte, but there is no room for Borussia Dortmund's Ciro Immobile.

Italy meet Croatia in a Euro 2016 qualifier next Sunday, before facing Albania in a friendly two days later.

Italy squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Buffon, Sirigu, Perin.

Defenders: Chiellini, Ranocchia, Ogbonna Rugani, Moretti.

Midfielders: Darmian, De Sciglio, De Rossi, Candreva, Soriano, Verratti, Marchisio, Bertolacci, Parolo, Pasqual, Bonaventura, Cerci, El Shaarawy

Forwards: Balotelli, Zaza, Pelle, Giovinco