Toni sends out reminder to Lippi

Italy’s forgotten man Luca Toni scored a brace in AS Roma’s 3-0 defeat of Genoa to send out a timely reminder to national team boss Marcello Lippi.

Toni has hardly featured since Lippi returned to the Italy helm 18 months ago after Roberto Donadoni was fired as his team crashed out in the quarter-finals of the European Championships.

This season has been particularly poor for Toni who failed to impress Bayern Munich coach Luis van Gaal and found himself out of favour.

But a loan move to the Italian capital has transformed him.

And two goals from Mirko Vucinic crosses will surely have made Lippi sit up and take notice.

“Lippi knows what I can do for the national team, I’ve already had a lot of satisfaction from wearing that shirt,” said the World Cup winner from 2006 under Lippi.

“I know that the better I do with Roma the more chance I’ll have of returning to the national team.

“For me right now it’s important to score many goals to keep Roma heading upwards.”

His new coach Claudio Ranieri, who wasted no time in starting him despite his lack of recent match-time, paid tribute to the forward’s strength in the air.

“He was a player we needed, he’s good with his head,” said Ranieri.

Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Taddei has also been impressed with the team’s new acquisition.

“He’s a great centre forward who scores important goals. He’s a target up front for everyone on the team.

“He wins all the high balls and earns many free-kicks.”