ROME, Aug 29 (UNB/AP) — Italy’s new coach Gennaro Gattuso on Friday handed first national team call-ups to three players, including 18-year-old Liverpool center back Giovanni Leoni.

Inter Milan forward Francesco Pio Esposito and Bologna midfielder Giovanni Fabbian were also named to the Azzurri squad for the first time. This is Gattuso’s first squad selection since replacing Luciano Spalletti in June.

Italy faces crucial World Cup qualifiers next week, needing points against Estonia in Bergamo on Friday and Israel in Hungary three days later. The Azzurri have three points from two matches, trailing Norway, which leads Group I with 12 points, and Israel with six points from three matches.

Leoni recently transferred from Parma to Liverpool but has yet to debut for the Premier League champions. Atalanta forward Gianluca Scamacca and Roma center back Gianluca Mancini return to the squad after injuries. Forward Mateo Retegui, recently moved to Saudi Arabia, and Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, recovering from a shoulder issue, were also included.

Italy squad:
Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham).
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Giovanni Leoni (Liverpool), Gianluca Mancini (Roma).
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Giovanni Fabbian (Bologna), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Nicolò Rovella (Lazio), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle).
Forwards: Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Daniel Maldini (Atalanta), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atletico Madrid), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio).