European Qualifiers: Ciro Immobile hails united Italy squad

Striker Ciro Immobile feels the Italy squad is more united under new coach Antonio Conte - and has played down the absence of Mario Balotelli from their upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers.

The non-selection of the Liverpool striker has dominated the build-up to Group H games against Azerbaijan on Friday and Malta next Tuesday.

Coach Conte, who left Juventus in the summer to replace Cesare Prandelli, put his decision down to allowing the striker time to settle at his new club and added: "I make selections not exclusions, which is something completely different."

Immobile told the Italian Football Federation's website: "There are other strikers here who are playing very well.

I do not see it as casting a shadow over the squad. (Balotelli) is a great player and in fact I'd like to see him soon here in the national team.

"I am thinking of (Mattia) Destro, (Graziano) Pelle, (Dani) Osvaldo and (Sebastian) Giovinco. If they're here, it's because they deserve to be.

"I know Mario very well. He's a good lad, but it's the coach who picks the squad.''

Fellow forward Simone Zaza added: "I do not see it as casting a shadow over the squad. (Balotelli) is a great player and in fact I'd like to see him soon here in the national team."

Immobile started only one game as the Azzurri crashed out from Group D of this summer's World Cup.

But the Borussia Dortmund man, who worked under Conte at Juventus, said: "Compared to Brazil, now the group is united, travelling in the same direction.

"I have not found it to be the 11 starters and then the rest of the group, everyone here knows he can play at any time. But I had no doubt about that, I knew Conte well."

Empoli defender Daniele Rugani had been called up by Conte for a possible international debut, but has been moved to the under-21 squad for their Euro 2015 qualification play-off against Slovakia after an injury to Sampdoria's Alessio Romagnoli.

Azerbaijan performed creditably in their opening game against Bulgaria and were only beaten 2-1 after Ventsislav Hristov's goal in the 87th minute.

But they, and indeed Malta, will be expected to provide few problems for Italy as they seek to build on an opening 2-0 win over Norway.