Injured Gabbiadini replaced by Petagna in Italy squad

Florence: Manolo Gabbiadini has pulled out of the Italy squad and been replaced by Atalanta forward Andrea Petagna.

Gabbiadini limped off with a groin injury after a half-hour of Southampton’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday in the Premier League.

The Italian had scored six times in his first four Saints appearances since his move from Napoli in January.

Italy, level on points with Spain at the top of Group G, play Albania in Palermo on Friday in a World Cup qualifier.

The Azzurri then travel to the Netherlands for a friendly international on Tuesday.

Fiorentina’s Federico Bernardeschi has also withdrawn after he did not play at the weekend due to “persistent ankle pain”.