And he is now keen to take his new found form onto the international stage with Italy as well.

Gilardino, a World Cup winner two years ago with the Azzurri, rarely played last season with Milan and that cost him his place in Roberto Donadoni's squad at Euro 2008.

However, Italy coach Marcelo Lippi, who replaced Donadoni earlier this summer, recalled Gilardino to the squad and started him alongside Luca Toni in Saturday's 2-1 triumph over Cyprus.

He is expected to be given the nod once more against Georgia in Udine on Wednesday.

"I have been given continuity at my club and with the national team," Gilardino said. "This is really important for me.

"I am 26 years old and I have so much hunger to do well with my club and country.

"Having scored in the opening game of the Serie A with Fiorentina, now I hope to score with Italy."

Italy won in Cyprus thanks to a brace from Antonio Di Natale, who left it late to seal the win with a goal against the run of play in the final minute of stoppage time.

Lippi admitted that he had not been entirely happy with the performance, and was left further disappointed by the loss of two valuable players in Gennaro Gattuso and Fabio Grosso to injury.

Gattuso broke his hand and was operated on on Sunday while Grosso suffered two broken ribs.

Both players are expected to be out of action for approximately a month.

"We will try to win (against Georgia) without suffering as much," Lippi said, before reminding his players that every game will be hard.

"We can't think that because we are world champions that each game will be a walk in the park.

"Our aim is to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa. We have won the first game, albeit with a bit of luck. We have only just started."

Despite the low-key start to the defence of their World Cup title, Lippi does believe his side will improve as the season progresses.

"The problems we had against Cyprus are exclusively related to the lack of top physical condition," he said.

Lippi has called Palermo midfielder Antonio Nocerino up to the squad as a replacement for Gattuso.