Injury rules Balotelli out of qualifiers

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will be without Mario Balotelli for upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Serbia and Northern Ireland.

Manchester City striker Balotelli picked up a knock to his back in a practice match on Tuesday and did not take part in training with the Italian team on Wednesday.

Balotelli instead underwent tests in order to determine the extent of his injury and the 21-year-old has been forced to return to England.

“Balotelli’s injury isn’t too serious, but after consulting Manchester City, we’ve decided to send him back home,” Italian team doctor Enrico Castellacci told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Italy top Group C and have already qualified for next year’s tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

The Azzurri face Serbia in Belgrade on Friday before their final qualifier at home to Northern Ireland on Tuesday.