Injury-hit Italy enlist Maccarone for Cardiff

Massimo Maccarone has been called into the Italy squad to face Wales as replacement for Filippo Inzaghi, who has a foot injury. The Middlesbrough striker has just one senior cap to his name but has been in impressive form since moving to the Riverside for £8.1m in the summer from Empoli.

Maccarone joined up with the Azzurri last night before travelling to Cardiff for Wednesday's Euro 2004 Group Nine qualifying game.

Inzaghi, who has been in scintillating form for his club, Milan, is the fourth high-profile casualty to affect Trapattoni's plans for the Wales game. Francesco Totti, Christian Vieri, Mark Iuliano and Francesco Coco had already pulled out before Saturday's match, which saw Italy battle back from a goal down after Predrag Mijatovic had put Yugoslavia ahead.

In addition, Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta and Alessandro Del Piero – who scored the equaliser – are also struggling with assorted aches and pains.

All of Wales' Nationwide League players who turned out for their clubs on Saturday – Paul Evans, Paul Trollope, Danny Coyne, Darren Barnard, Robert Earnshaw, Rhys Weston and Danny Gabiddon – have all returned to the squad unscathed. Earnshaw and Wolves' Nathan Blake have also both recovered from flu.