Niccolò Pisilli celebrates his goal for Italy against Montenegro in the European Under-21 Championship qualifier (@azzurri)
Marco Palestra has a muscular problem, but Francesco Pio Esposito, Davide Bartesaghi, Niccolò Pisilli and Luca Koleosho are expected to start for Italy against Luxembourg.
It kicks off at the Stade de Luxembourg on Wednesday at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).
This is the first of two friendly matches under interim coach Silvio Baldini, along with Sunday’s trip to Greece.
Promoted from the Under-21 bench for these two games, he has called up largely uncapped players who are eager to prove themselves, along with veteran captain Gianluigi Donnarumma.
New Italy on show in Luxembourg
Palestra had been set to start after sparking a bidding war worth €50m on the transfer market, but Sky Sport Italia report he sustained a slight adductor issue in training and will not be risked.
Instead, Costantino Favasuli of Catanzaro is expected to step in at right-back, as he can play on either flank.
Milan left-back Bartesaghi is chosen for the left side of defence, around Fiorentina’s Pietro Comuzzo and Borussia Monchengladbach’s 20-year-old Fabio Chiarodia.
It is largely the current Under-21 side, including Fiorentina midfielder Cher Ndour, Luca Lipani of Sassuolo and Roma’s Pisilli.
The trident attack in a 4-3-3 formation should be Roma-owned Luigi Cherubini, Inter striker Pio Esposito, and Paris FC’s Koleosho.
Italy (probable 4-3-3): Donnarumma; Favasuli, Chiarodia, Comuzzo, Bartesaghi; Ndour, Lipani, Pisilli; Cherubini, Pio Esposito, Koleosho