Italy have been hit with several absences ahead of their UEFA Nations League semi-final with Spain on Wednesday evening.

The Azzurri's star striker Ciro Immobile will not play any part in October's fixtures due to injury, while Matteo Pessina and Rafael Toloi have also been forced to withdraw from the squad for the same reason.

With Immobile out of contention, Moise Kean ought to be given the opportunity to lead the line after bagging a brace in Italy's most recent game - a 5-0 thrashing of Lithuania in World Cup Qualifying.

There should be no further surprises in the final third, with indispensable pair Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Chiesa operating on the flanks in support of Kean.

Marco Verratti's return to fitness should see him form part of the fear-inducing midfield with Jorginho and Nicolo Barella, but Manuel Locatelli and Sandro Tonali are also in contention for starts.

Emerson is set to hold his place at left-back after Leonardo Spinazzola's devastating Achilles injury at Euro 2020, while Giovanni Di Lorenzo should get the nod over Davide Calabria on the opposite side.

At a combined age of 71, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci continue to operate as Italy's first-choice defenders in front of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has had to be patient for opportunities at Paris Saint-Germain since his arrival.

Italy possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Kean, Insigne

> Click here to see how Spain could line up for this clash

Written by
Ben Knapton