Gianfranco Zola thinks it is only a matter of time before Mario Balotelli seals his return to the Italy team.
Balotelli has scored seven goals in nine appearances for Nice in 2016-17, although he has not played since November 6 due to a calf injury.
The former Liverpool forward last played for Italy in the 2014 World Cup, but Zola – who represented the Azzurri between 1991 and 1997 – thinks his international return after two and a half years away is not far away.
Zola told Omnisport: "It seems to me that he is working very well and I wish that he can maintain and sustain that level of performance for much longer.
"If he does that I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before he is back in the national team."
"With Balo it has never been a matter of his ability but it has been a matter of how well he can handle himself," added Zola.
"Whether or not he's going to be called into the national team is not down to me - it will be down to Ventura in this case.
"But I'm delighted that he is finding the balance that allows his qualities to come through."
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