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Vito Mannone has described reports that he will be included in Italy’s pre-Euro 2016 squad as ‘a dream come true’.

Italian media reported this week that Sunderland keeper Mannone and his Black Cats team-mate Fabio Borini will feature in national boss Antonio Conte’s squad for a training camp ahead of this summer’s tournament.

And if they impress, they could even earn a place in Conte’s 23-man party which will head to the finals in France.

Mannone has represented his country at Under-21 level but never played for the senior team, while Borini has not been involved with the senior team since Euro 2012.

Asked about the reports, Mannone said: “It’s something that makes me really proud to even be mentioned and have a possibility to impress the manager.

“It’s amazing, a dream come true for me.

“Since I was a kid, I dreamt about this with my dad, whose unfortunately not here anymore.

“I’m just over the moon because Italy is not a bad country for keepers!

“I always thought it was really, really difficult with a legend in [Juventus’ Gianluigi] Buffon and other very, very good keepers.

“I will give everything. My season is not over.

“I’m glad we finished the job with my club and hopefully now I can give something more.”

An international call-up would be a happy ending to another rollercoaster season for Mannone, who spent the first half of the season playing second fiddle to Costel Pantilimon, before winning back his place and then helping the Black Cats clinch Premier League safety with a game to spare.

“It felt much harder than the last few seasons,” said Mannone, who was Sunderland’s player of the season two years ago in the so-called ‘miracle escape’ season.

(Image: 2016 Sunderland AFC)

“There’s been moments when you’re thinking it’s really tight and we’re at risk of going down.

“You think we can’t keep doing this and one day it’s going to go against us.

“Fortunately, we found the strength and mentality to go into games and be solid - keeping clean sheets and defending well.

“With that base, Defoe did the job for us up top.

“Since the manager came in, he gave us this kind of mentality.

“Everyone contributed to the cause.”

Sunderland looked relegation certainties until the turn of the year but, after strengthening the squad in January, the Black Cats improved significantly and Mannone is hoping that this will be the club’s final survival battle.

He said: “It’s really good that we’ve done it [reached safety] over four months, not just seven games.

“I don’t like to predict anything for next season!

“There’s a good base. If we can add a few players and keep the same manager, we can push for something more.

“This club deserves more.

“We’ve got special fans, an incredible stadium and training ground. We need to be higher in the Premier League. This city deserves it.”