As they visit Belfast for a decisive World Cup qualifier on Monday, European champions Italy could take the direct route to next year's finals with victory against a Northern Ireland side already out of contention.

However, a recent spate of injuries has made life more difficult for Azzurri head coach Roberto Mancini this week, as he has been forced to reshuffle the established spine of his team.

Vastly experienced captain Giorgio Chiellini was recently ruled out due to a thigh injury, so either Francesco Acerbi - who started against Switzerland on Friday - or Gianluca Mancini should join stand-in skipper Leonardo Bonucci at the heart of the Italian defence. Milan captain Davide Calabria was forced to return home after the draw with Switzerland, as he has a muscular issue, so Giovanni Di Lorenzo's place is unchallenged at right-back.

Midfield mainstay Marco Verratti will also be absent at Windsor Park, while Roma duo Nicolo Zaniolo (calf) and Lorenzo Pellegrini (knee) are sidelined too.

Italy will be without their first-choice striker as well, after Ciro Immobile - recently confirmed as Lazio's all-time top scorer - fell victim to a calf injury last week.

Therefore, with Torino frontman Andrea Belotti only recently returned from a long layoff, Federico Chiesa could lead the line for La Nazionale as a 'false nine', though Giacomo Raspadori and Gianluca Scamacca - both of Sassuolo - will join Belotti in providing more conventional back-up from the bench.

A lively showing as a second-half substitute by Domenico Berardi may also push the left-footed forward into contention to start as part of the front three.

Italy possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Acerbi, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Tonali; Berardi, Chiesa, Insigne