Leeds United attacker Willy Gnonto could start against England as Roberto Mancini speaks out
Leeds United forward Willy Gnonto could be handed a starting role for Italy in their Euro 2024 qualifier against England, with manager Roberto Mancini bemoaning a lack of attacking options, according to BBC Sport.
Italy host the Three Lions on Thursday (23 March) before a trip to Malta on Sunday (26 March), with Mancini not impressed by the very few forwards available for selection.
It could pave the way for Gnonto to feature from the start, with the winger set to reach double figures for Italy caps should he play a part in both matches.
“I don’t know why there are so few strikers, we are very limited going forwards,” said Mancini, as quoted by BBC Sport.
“We have three teams in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but out of the three teams there are seven or eight Italians at most. This is the reality.”
Time to shine
Italy have had a really mixed time of late, failing to qualify for the World Cup in 2018 and 2022, but winning Euro 2020 in between the massive failures.
A lack of attacking options has plagued the nation in recent times, and that could well be the case once again with Lazio strike Ciro Immobile currently out injured.
Mancini has been forced to turn to attackers born outside of the nation in order to try and right such wrongs, calling up Argentine-born forward Mateo Retegui.
But also named in the 30-man squad for the matches against England and Malta is Gnonto amid his fine displays for Leeds this season.
Fellow Premier League forward Gianluca Scamacca has also been included in Mancini’s latest squad, but the West Ham striker has only just returned to the pitch following a lengthy injury.
As a winger, Leeds man Gnonto does, of course, have to compete for a starting role with Juventus star Federico Chiesa, but he is another player who has recently faced a large period on the sidelines due to injury.
One alternative could see Gnonto operate in a more central role, a position that many Leeds fans have envisaged him playing in the near future.
In other Leeds United news, Sam Matterface has reacted to the controversy that took place during the recent Premier League encounter with Wolves.