Italy coach Antonio Conte has defended his decision to again omit Mario Balotelli from the national team.
The Liverpool striker was overlooked by Conte in his first squad selection last month and Conte feels the ex-Manchester City striker needs more time to focus adjusting to life at Liverpool.
Balotelli, who played for Italy at the World Cup in Brazil, has now also been left out of the Azzurri's 26-man roster for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Malta.
"Mario has started a new path," Conte said in Monday's press conference. "It's not an easy one and I believe he must be given the necessary time to adapt at Liverpool.
"We are following him just as we monitor all Italians that play abroad.
"I make selections not exclusions, which is something completely different."
Balotelli, who was left out of Liverpool's starting XI against West Brom at the weekend, moved to Anfield from AC Milan this summer.
One player competing in the Premier League that has made Conte's squad is Southampton striker Graziano Pelle.
Pelle has been in sizzling form since joining the Saints in July from Dutch side Feyenoord, and has earned his first-call up to the senior team.
The 29-year-old has scored four goals and set up one more in seven Premier League appearances so far.
"Graziano represents what I've always said," Conte said. "Meritocracy leads to a place in the national team for a player that in two years has scored 50 goals.
"Today he is becoming a star in the Premier League league after an adventure in Holland.
"I am curious to see him from close range in order to understand if he can help us.
"He deserved this call up from all points of view."
Conte has told his players he will not allow any conflicts that may arise from Serie A rivalries to affect the national team.
Juve, whom Conte led to three-straight league titles before leaving the Turin outfit this summer to accept the Italy post, edged Roma 3-2 on Sunday in a top-of-the table showdown.
The game in Turin was tense, with three penalties awarded, two players sent off and Roma coach Rudi Garcia given his marching orders.
Six Juve players have been included in Italy's squad while Roma's Mattia Destro and Alessandro Florenzi are also in Conte's latest selection.
"I have told my players what I have said in the past," Conte said. "Issues regarding the league must be left outside the changing room.
"We all have to work towards one mission, that of the national team.
"My task is to qualify the national team to the European Championship.
"We want to achieve that by playing good attacking football.
"We want to play the style of football of a team that always wants to take the initiative regardless of who we face.
"My aim is for this national team to have a winning mentality.
"Back in September I was pleasantly surprised by the positive approach of all the members in the group.
"I hope and I'm certain that I will find the same determination this time around."
Italy put behind them their first round elimination from the World Cup when they began their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win at Norway last month.
The Azzurri take on Group H rivals Azerbaijan at Palermo's Renzo Barbera stadium on Friday before travelling to Ta'Qali to face Malta on October 13.
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