Cape Town - Following a blistering start to life in England, Graziano Pelle hopes to be given a chance to prove his worth for the Italian national team.
The Sunderland Echo report that Southampton striker hopes that he has done enough to make Antonio Conte's Italy squad,
Pelle, who has made the Sport24 EPL Team of the Week on two occasions, is hopeful that he may be called up for next month's Euro 2016 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Malta. ,
“I believe in myself,” said Pelle.
“I deserve to be considered in the national team at this moment, but I don’t pretend to be selected. There are other players that deserve like I do."
“At the end of the list it is only five offensive players that will be in the selection, and to be in the five in all of Italy is not easy. We know how many good players Italy has.
“I’m just happy with what I’m doing and until now, for nine years after I was an under-21, I’ve never been in the national team.
“Of course, I (would) like it, but for me now the focus is to do good
with Southampton and if it will come
I am going to be super happy to be on.”
The 29-year-old striker has fired Southampton into second place on the English Premiership table after six matches.
Pelle has found the back of the net four times including a spectacular strike on the volley against QPR. Watch that goal HERE!
Brought to Southampton from Dutch side Feyenoord for just £8 million by new boss Ronald Koeman, Pelle is proving to be one of the buys of the season but his pedigree cannot be doubted as the Italian marksman scored 55 goals in 66 appearances for his previous club.