Ghanaian-born striker Francis Sarpong of Italian Serie C side AC Palazzolo said he has not given up on playing for the Black Stars.

The 23-year-old forward who was born in Ghana but moved to Italy at the age of five has been ever present in the setup of the Lombardy-based club scoring a lot and was instrumental in their second-place finish last season.

“Football in Italy is very advanced. I grew up here and I have learnt a lot and my major dream is to one day get a Black Stars call-up and play for my motherland,” Sarpong told Goal Ghana.

“I want to be in the Ghana squad for the next Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and help the country win the trophy. I know what I can do.”

He added: “Coach Kwesi Appiah and his technical team should give me a call-up and I will prove myself to Ghanaians and the whole world.”

The bulldozing forward has carved a niche for himself as one of the most potent strikers in the Serie C with some clubs in the Serie A and B on his heels.

He has often been compared to Mario Balotelli by the Italian media because of his strength, height, pace and goal scoring prowess.