Italy boss Cesare Prandelli has dropped a significant hint that Antonio Cassano will be in his Euro 2012 squad if he proves his fitness before the end of the Serie A season.

The AC Milan forward is back in action after nearly six full months on the sidelines following heart surgery but he only made his return to competitive action as a substitute in the defeat by Fiorentina at San Siro two weeks ago.

Panini made headlines by leaving the enigmatic attacker out of their sticker album for this summer's tournament in Poland and Ukraine but when asked about the omission, Prandelli told Italia 1: "In my personal album, Antonio Cassano is not missing.

"In the album I have at home, Cassano is there. But I want Antonio there with a smile [on his face]."

Cassano, who played a key role in the Azzurri's qualification for Euro 2012, was forced to undergo an emergency heart procedure after taking ill after Milan's clash with Roma at the tail end of October.