Marco Verratti is ready to be pull the strings in the absence of Andrea Pirlo when Italy aim to make it a miserable first competitive game in charge for Bulgaria coach Ivaylo Petev on Saturday.
Pirlo has been ruled out of the Euro 2016 Group H qualifier at the Stadion Vasil Levski due to a calf injury, while Daniele De Rossi is also unavailable for the same reason.
Italy coach Antonio Conte has urged Verratti to "take the reins" in Sofia and the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has vowed to take his chance.
