Alessio Cerci... an inspiration for Torino this season.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has a striker selection headache ahead of the World Cup in Brazil with Torino pair Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci leading a surge of young Italian attacking talent.

The duo were the architects of Torino’s last-gasp 2-1 comeback against Genoa during the weekend’s Serie A goalfest, scoring in the second and third minute of stoppage time to overturn Alberto Gilardino’s 85th minute opener and snatch a crucial three points for their Europa League charge.

With Juventus beating Udinese 2-0 on Monday night, 38 goals were scored in this latest round of Serie A fixtures.

There was also a stellar display from Chievo’s Alberto Paloschi, who scored a hat-trick in a crucial 4-2 win at fellow relegation strugglers Livorno that left them five points clear of their hosts and the drop zone.

The total is the second highest of the season so far, behind the 43 goals scored in the second week.

Immobile’s equaliser was his 19th of the season and makes him the league’s current top goalscorer.

Immobile is also two ahead of Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain and Verona’s veteran hitman Luca Toni, who although almost 37 is making an unlikely push for a place in Brazil.

Immobile’s total is impressive also because the 24-year-old does not take penalties. That duty is left to Cerci, who is level with Paloschi, Mario Balotelli and Roma’s Mattia Destro on 13 goals – one behind Gilardino – and is the creative heart of Giampiero Ventura’s side.

Lethal tandem

Immobile and Cerci have scored 32 of Torino’s 49 goals between them, and are the most prolific strike partnership in the league, one ahead of Juve’s Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente.

Immobile is part-owned by Juve, though, and fans are worried their local rivals could call him back at the end of the season.

“I’ll do everything to keep this team together, keeping hold of who we need and helping to improve them,” said Torino owner Urbano Cairo.

With Giuseppe Rossi recovering from his latest injury setback and a rejuvenated Antonio Cassano having a superb season at Europa League-chasing Parma, Prandelli is going to have a tough time picking his preferred front line.

The Italy coach hosted a 42-man session of potential squad members in a fitness test at training centre Coverciano yesterday, and all apart from Toni, Paloschi and Destro made the trip.

Destro was left out after receiving a three-game ban last week for punching an opponent.

The 23-year-old Roma striker was omitted from the trip for violating Prandelli’s ethics code, but is likely to be considered for the squad after scoring 13 goals in just 18 matches.

Despite being the biggest name, Balotelli has if anything the most to prove. His form has been patchy all season and his place in the squad may be under threat.

Serie A scorers

19 goals: Immobile (Torino).
18 goals: Tevez (Juventus).
17 goals: Toni (Verona), Higuain (Napoli).
15 goals: Palacio (Inter).
14 goals: Rossi (Fiorentina), Gilardino (Genoa), Llorente (Juventus).
13 goals: Paloschi (Chievo), Paulinho (Livorno), Balotelli (Milan), Destro (Roma), Cerci (Torino).