Nicolo Barella is expected to start for Italy in tomorrow’s FIFA World Cup qualifier at home to Northern Ireland.
The Inter midfielder reached the Azzurri’s training base in Parma last night, along with Alessandro Bastoni and Stefano Sensi, after the trio were cleared to travel by Milan’s local health authority.
According to Corriere della Sera, via FcInterNews.it, Barella will start the game against Northern Ireland but Sensi is on standby as well for the match with Ian Baraclough’s side.
Bastoni, meanwhile, will be used in Italy’s following two games away in Bulgaria and Lithuania.
Roberto Mancini will be happy to have Barella and Sensi in particular available, the report continued, as he is short of options in midfield, with Bryan Cristante and Jorginho both injured.
Manuel Locatelli and Marco Verratti have been tried as a midfield pairing in training this week but it looks as if Barella will come straight into the side.
Barella, Bastoni and Sensi all began the international break by training at Appiano Gentile as they waited for permission to leave, following Inter’s COVID-19 outbreak last week.
As per a report earlier today, the club confirmed there were no further positive cases following the latest round of testing.
