Luca Toni's move back to Italy could put him in the reckoning to play for the Azzurri in the World Cup this summer.
The veteran striker has made a loan move to Roma following a frustrating period at Bayern Munich and got his first start back in Serie A in his new side's 1-0 victory over Chievo.
Toni has not played for Italy since the Confederations Cup in the summer of 2009, but Marcelo Lippi has opened the door for him to return if he can regain fitness and show some good form before the end of the season.
However, Lippi did warn that he can only have 23 players on the plane to South Africa and he remains "happy and convinced" he will be able to choose from a large number of players in the coming months.
Indeed, this wide pool of players should help ensure Italian are among the favourites when it comes to World Cup football betting.
Speaking about Toni's first appearance back in Serie A, Lippi said: "I saw a great performance by Toni. I was very impressed considering he had not played for several months."
"I follow all the games. I am monitoring everything," he added.
Toni's new teammate Francesco Totti recently said he would be willing to return from international retirement for Italy is he was fit and selected by Lippi.
The veteran quit after Italy's World Cup 2006 victory but now has said he will go to South Africa is Lippi wants him as part of the squad.