TWO strikers with vastly different records in front of goal this season have been named in the Italian squad tonight.

Saints’ nine-goal forward Graziano Pelle unsurprisingly keeps his place in the squad for a Euro 2016 qualifier against Croatia and the subsequent friendly meeting with Albania.

Pelle, after all, crowned his senior Italian debut with the winner in Malta last time out.

Pelle is joined in the squad by Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, who is named for the first time since the World Cup finals.

The 24-year-old, who left AC Milan for Anfield in the weeks that followed Italy’s early return from Brazil, played no part in the first four games of Antonio Conte’s reign as Azzurri boss.

Balotelli has only scored twice for the Reds so far, and has yet to net in the Premier League.

Italy meet Croatia at San Siro on November 16 before tackling Albania at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa two days later.

Italy squad: Buffon (Juventus), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (Paris St Germain); Chiellini (Juventus), Moretti (Torino), Ogbonna (Juventus), Ranocchia (Inter Milan), Rugani (Empoli); Bertolacci (Genoa), Bonaventura (AC Milan), Candreva (Lazio), Cerci (Atletico Madrid), Darmian (Torino), De Rossi (Roma), De Sciglio (AC Milan), El Shaarawy (AC Milan), Marchisio (Juventus), Parolo (Lazio), Pasqual (Fiorentina), Soriano (Sampdoria), Verratti (Paris St Germain); Balotelli (Liverpool), Giovinco (Juventus), Immobile (Borussia Dortmund), Pelle (Southampton), Zaza (Sassuolo).