Simone Pepe is gutted for Udinese and Italy teammate Antonio Di Natale over his knee injury.

"Di Natale's absence is upsetting for Italy and for Udinese," Pepe stressed on Sky Sport Italia.

"He is a great player and we will have to play the rest of our games this term without him.

"Such a top star cannot be lost lightly and he is a great leader for us at Udinese."