Team News: Antonio Di Natale dropped by Udinese for Sampdoria clash

Udinese manager Andrea Stramaccioni has chosen to name Antonio Di Natale on the bench for his side's Serie A match against Sampdoria this afternoon.

The veteran striker is the club's top scorer with eight league goals this season, but Alexandre Geijo has been chosen ahead of him to partner Cyril Thereau in the attack.

Meanwhile, Manolo Gabbiadini, who has been strongly linked with a move to Napoli, has returned to the Sampdoria starting XI.

He will play in a three-man attack alongside Stefano Okaka and Eder, as the hosts look for a victory that will move them up to third in Serie A.

Sampdoria: Romero, De Silvestri, Gastaldello, Regini, Mesbah, Soriano, Palombo, Obiang, Gabbiadini, Okaka, Eder

Udinese: Karnezis, Vague, Danilo, Heurtaux, Widmer, Pinzi, Badu, Kone, Pasquale, Thereau, Geijo