Balotelli to miss England friendly

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli will miss Italy’s friendly against England on Wednesday due to an eye infection.

Balotelli, 22, missed his side’s 3-2 Community Shield win against Chelsea at Villa Park on Sunday, but was expected to feature in Berne against the team Italy knocked out of Euro 2012.

After Italy accounted for England in the quarter-finals, Balotelli was influential in Cesare Prandelli’s side reaching the final, firing two goals to defeat the much-fancied Germany in the semi-final.

Prandelli has chosen to replace the striker with Udinese forward Diego Fabbrini, who scored just twice in Serie A last season.

Balotelli will return to Manchester to recover from conjunctivitis ahead of Saturday’s English Premier League curtain raiser with promoted Southampton.