Prandelli offers Rossi boost

Striker's agent confident of speedy recovery

By Matthew Skinns.   Last Updated: October 28, 2011 10:34am

Image text here

Giuseppe Rossi: Striker has been reassured there is time to prove his fitness for Italy's Euro 2012 campaign

Sky Bet

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli insists Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi remains in his plans for Euro 2012 despite recently sustaining a knee injury that threatens his participation in the competition.

Rossi sustained cruciate ligament damage in a 3-0 defeat by Real Madrid on Wednesday night that could see him side-lined for up to six months, as the Yellow Submarines continue to struggle.

Prandelli has looked to boost the 24-year-old's morale as he faces a race against time to regain his fitness before the end of the Primera Liga season.

"It's really bad news for him and for us, but we will wait for him" Prandelli told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

"All he has to do is to think of recovering with calmness.

"The day he returns to play then we will consider him."

Rossi's agent Federico Pastorello remains confident there is ample time for his client to recover for the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.

"Giuseppe is determined," he said.

"There are still six months to go before the end of the campaign and almost eight months until Euro 2012.

"There is time for him to recover. I am certain that for the European Championship, he will be available."

Italy finished top of Group C with the former Manchester United forward featuring in seven qualifying games, scoring once.