Southampton striker Graziano Pelle has been rewarded for his impressive start to the Premier League season by winning a first senior call-up by Italy.

Pelle is one of two uncapped players named in Antonio Conte’s 26-man squad for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Malta, along with 20-year-old defender Daniele Rugani, who is on loan at Empoli from Juventus.

The 29-year-old Pelle, who has represented Italy at various youth levels, has scored five times since joining Southampton from Feyenoord this summer, having netted 27 goals for the Rotterdam club in the 2013/14 season.

A delighted Pelle tweeted a picture of him playing for his country previously with a message saying: “Another dream came true, I missed so much this color on me!TNX to my family, staff + team from Feyenoord & Saints.”

Italy won their opening Euro 2016 qualifier 2-0 against Norway and are next in action at home to Azerbaijan on October 10. Three days later they travel to Malta.

Conte’s squad

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (PSG).

Defenders: Bonucci, Chiellini, Ogbonna (all Juventus), Ranocchia (Inter), Rugani (Empoli).

Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Bonaventura (Milan), Candreva (Lazio), Darmian (Torino), De Sciglio (Milan), Florenzi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Parolo (Lazio), Pasqual (Fiorentina), Poli (Milan), Motta, Verratti (both Paris St Germain).

Forwards: Destro (Roma), Giovinco (Juventus), Immobile (Borussia Dortmund), Osvaldo (Inter), Pelle (Southampton), Zaza (Sassuolo).

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