Gianluigi Buffon has cut short his retirement from international football and could face England at Wembley after being called up by Italy.

The veteran Juventus goalkeeper called an end to his Azzurri career after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup, but he has chosen to return. His anticipated return to the squad was confirmed on Saturday.

Buffon, 40, has been capped 175 times by Italy and could add to that tally in the friendlies against Argentina on March 23 in Manchester and against England in London four days later.

Italy head coach Luigi Di Biagio has handed first senior calls to two forwards, AC Milan’s Patrick Cutrone and Fiorentina’s Federico Chiesa, the son of former international striker Enrico Chiesa. There is no place for Nice striker Mario Balotelli despite Di Biagio watching him in action recently.

The Italy team website said the squad will assemble on Sunday in Coverciano and travel to England on Thursday afternoon.

Squad: Buffon (Juventus), Donnarumma (AC Milan), Perin (Genoa); Bonucci (AC Milan), Chiellini (Juventus), Darmian (Manchester United), De Sciglio (Juventus), Ferrari (Sampdoria), Florenzi (Roma), Rugani (Juventus), Spinazzola (Atalanta), Zappacosta (Chelsea); Bonaventura (Milan), Cristante (Atalanta), Gagliardini (Inter Milan), Jorginho (Napoli), Parolo (Lazio), Pellegrini (Roma), Verratti (Paris St Germain); Belotti (Torino), Candreva (Inter Milan), Cutrone (AC Milan), Chiesa (Fiorentina), Immobile (Lazio), Insigne (Napoli), Verdi (Bologna).