Italy striker Kean ruled out of World Cup qualifiers

Italy manager Luciano Spalletti will have to plan for his sides opening World Cup qualifiers without Moise Kean after the striker left the squads training camp due to a thigh injury on Thursday.

Kean has had the best season of his career, scoring 19 Serie A goals for Fiorentina having failed to find the net once at Juventus in the previous campaign.

The 25-year-old started both legs of Italys Nations League quarter-final against Germany in March and scored twice. Mateo Retegui, last seasons top scorer in Serie A, is expected to replace him in the team.

Italy, who have failed to qualify for the last two World Cups, begin their Group I qualifying campaign away to Norway on Friday, before hosting Moldova on Monday.

Spalletti has also lost midfielder Manuel Locatelli and defender Matteo Gabbia to injury, and Inter Milan defender Francesco Acerbi withdrew from the squad on Sunday. REUTERS

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