NapoliÃÂs Lorenzo Insigne kisses his jersey in celebration after scoring during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Napoli, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The Associated Press
FLORENCE, Italy (AP) - Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne pulled out of the Italy squad with a knee injury on Wednesday, depriving coach Antonio Conte of a player who has been in sparkling form recently.
Insigne scored twice in Napoli's 4-0 win at AC Milan on Sunday, taking his tally to five goals in seven Serie A matches - the same number he scored in total over the previous two seasons.
But the 24-year-old injured his right knee against Milan and was unable to train with his international teammates on Tuesday ahead of European Championship qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Norway.
The Italian football federation said that although his condition had improved, Insigne was still in pain and would leave the Coverciano training camp on the outskirts of Florence and return to his club for treatment.
It is the second injury withdrawal from the squad, after Sassuolo uncapped forward Domenico Berardi. Conte has called up Milan midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura, who will link up with the Italy squad in the evening.
Italy visits Azerbaijan on Saturday, then plays Norway in Rome on Tuesday.
Conte's team is top of Group H, two points ahead of Norway.
Napoliâs Lorenzo Insigne celebrates after scoring during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Napoli, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The Associated Press
NapoliÃÂs Lorenzo Insigne celebrates after scoring during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Napoli, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The Associated Press
Napoliâs Lorenzo Insigne, right, scores during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Napoli, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (Daniel Dal Zennaro/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
Antonio Conte, coach of the Italian national soccer team, leads a training session ahead of Saturday's Euro 2016 qualifying match against Azerbaijan, at the Coverciano center, near Florence, Italy, Monday, Oct. 5, 2015. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
Antonio Conte, coach of the Italian national soccer team, walks on the field during a training session ahead of Saturday's Euro 2016 qualifying match against Azerbaijan, at the Coverciano center, near Florence, Italy, Monday, Oct. 5, 2015. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
From left, Italy's Andrea Pirlo, Sebastian Giovinco and Riccardo Montolivo arrive for a training session ahead of Saturday's Euro 2016 qualifying match against Azerbajian, at the Coverciano center, near Florence, Italy, Monday, Oct. 5, 2015. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
Italy's Stephan El Shaarawy gives the thumb-up sign prior to a training session ahead of Saturday's Euro 2016 qualifying match against Azerbaijan, at the Coverciano center, near Florence, Italy, Monday, Oct. 5, 2015. (Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press