Roberto Soriano and Andrea Bertolacci will compete for the final starting sport in Antonio Conte’s midfield when Italy face Malta on Thursday.
The Group H clash will see the Azzurri compete for their first win in Euro 2016 qualification since beating the island nation back in October 2014, and coach Conte will likely deploy the creative pairing of Marco Verratti and Andrea Pirlo as part of a three-man midfield.
Sky Sport Italia report that Rossoneri new signing Bertolacci will compete with Samp’s Soriano for a place in the Azzurri side for the game in Florence.
German-born Soriano has featured prominently under the former Juventus coach, making four appearances since his first cap in 2014, form that almost saw him clinch a late move to Napoli, having also been linked with joining Bertolacci in Milan.
Bertolacci, 24, has started both of the Diavolo’s Serie A matches in 2015-16 since moving from Roma in the summer transfer window, and has three senior Azzurri caps.
