SUNDERLAND forward Fabio Borini could be heading for the European Championships after earning an international recall.

Borini has been included in Italy’s provisional squad for the European Championships along with another Sunderland employee Emanuele Giaccherini, although the winger has been on loan at Bologna.

The presence of Borini in Antonio Conte’s initial party brings an end to almost four years of waiting, having been regularly overlooked since his last involvement when he was an unused substitute at Euro 2012.

But the former Liverpool man still has plenty of work to do to make the cut for France 2016 because Conte’s 28-names do not include players in clubs competing in cup finals; like those from Manchester United, Juventus and AC Milan.

Borini will look to impress Conte, who has never included him in an Italy squad before, during a training camp until Saturday and a second provisional squad will be named on Monday. The final Euro squad has to be confirmed by May 31 ahead of an opening game with Belgium on June 13.

Conte included Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello, defenders Lorenzo Tonelli (Empoli), Davide Zappacosta (Torino) and Armando Izzo (Genoa), as well as Genoa forward Leonardo Pavoletti and midfielders Marco Benassi (Torino) and Danilo Cataldi (Lazio) for the first time.

Sampdoria’s Antonio Mirante was preferred to Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone after recent reports suggested Conte was considering calling up a shot-stopper who has performed well under Sam Allardyce.