Federico Chiesa truth now clear after Liverpool forward makes selection admission

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCLiverpool forward Federico Chiesa has once again been left out of the national team squad by ItalyItaly boss Gennaro Gattuso has claimed Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa only wants a recall to the Italy squad when he regains full fitness. Despite Italy having been shorn of a number of attacking options due to injury, Chiesa was again absent from those called up by Gattuso for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers in Estonia on Saturday and at home to Israel next Tuesday.The 27-year-old has scored twice in five Premier League substitute appearances this season and also provided two assists on his sole start in the League Cup win over Southampton a fortnight ago.However, a minor injury meant he missed Liverpool's Champions League defeat in Galatasaray last week - having been given special dispensation to play in the competition after a season-ending injury to Giovanni Leoni - and then failed to get off the bench in the 2-1 Premier League defeat at Chelsea on Saturday.And with less than 180 competitive minutes under his belt this season, Chiesa has made it clear he does not want to be considered for national team selection until he is fully up to speed.“The Chiesa issue is very simple,” said Gattuso, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday.

“I talk to my players a lot, and I want to make that clear, a lot."I speak every week with Fede and he knows what I think of him, but I also have to respect what the player tells me.“He does not feel at 100% and wants to be at 100%, that is the truth.”