Azzurri head coach, Antonio Conte, has quashed claims that he was preparing to call-up Mario Balotelli to the Italy squad until the Milan forward was struck by injury.
Balotelli resigned with the Rossoneri in the summer but, despite initially impressing, sustained a muscle injury and would have been sidelined for the Azzurri's forthcoming qualifying ties against Azerbaijan and Norway.
Conte, though, has stated that he was never in contention.
Consistency is required
Speaking ahead of Italy's Euro 2016 qualifying tie against Azerbaijain on Saturday, the head coach said: "There's still a path to follow to get to the national team. Two games are not enough to re-open the doors. I need certainty."
Conte also added that the Liverpool forward, on-loan from the Merseyside club has to be "determined" and, most importantly, consistent in his performances.
Balotelli impressed in his brief cameo against Inter Milan last month, striking the post before drawing a fingertip save from Nerazzurri No.1, Samir Handanovic.
The ex-Juventus boss has lambasted the volatile attacker in the past, though he has yet to rule out a permanent exclusion from the national team for the forward.
Offers praise to a fellow Italian forward
The manager singled out praise for Graziano Pellé, however, the Southampton forward who has assumed goalscoring duties since his Azzurri debut last year.
"He sacrifices so much, he plays for the team and that’s key," said Conte. "I'm happy to have a player with his characteristics, he is good at playing as a lone-striker or in a pair."
The sharks have been proverbially circling the ex-Juve boss since allegations of match-fixing came to light and, although Italy's form has fluctuated throughout the qualifying campaign, his side lay atop of their group thanks in no small part to the goalscoring contributions of the Leece-born attacker.
Italy travel to Azerbaijan this upcoming weekend before hosting Norway to conclude their campaign.