Napoli's season is being shaped less by tactics and more by the treatment table. Allegri heads into the post-international break period with seven players unavailable, a situation that is forcing his hand on selection and complicating the tactical shift toward a back three he had been exploring. The list includes Buongiorno, Anguissa, Olivera, Favasuli, Alisson Santos, and Vergara, who suffered a muscle injury on international duty with Italy and faces around six weeks out. That is a significant blow given the young midfielder had been one of the more promising figures in the early weeks of the campaign.

The one piece of good news arrived on October 7, when Scott McTominay passed his cardiac fitness examination and was cleared to return to training. The Scottish midfielder had undergone an ablation procedure for a benign arrhythmia, and his return timeline had been uncertain. His clearance gives Allegri an important midfield option back, though match sharpness will take time to rebuild.

On the pitch, Napoli sit ninth in Serie A with seven points from five games, a position that reflects their inconsistency. A 1-1 draw at Fiorentina was the last outing, a result that at least halted a run of three consecutive defeats. Kevin De Bruyne, meanwhile, showed sharp form for Belgium during the break, scoring twice against Turkey, which will encourage Allegri as the club looks to rediscover momentum. Frosinone visit the Maradona on Saturday, and with selection heavily restricted, Napoli need a performance to steady confidence.