Napoli's injury crisis is defining their start to the season and threatening to derail Massimiliano Allegri's plans at a critical moment. The club sits ninth in Serie A with seven points from five games, and the squad depth Allegri needs to turn form around is being tested by a growing list of absentees. The most pressing concern is Scott McTominay. The Scottish midfielder underwent cardiac ablation surgery in early September, and while he returned to training at Castelvolturno last week, more recent reports from Il Mattino suggest his comeback could be pushed back further, potentially ruling him out of both the Frosinone league fixture on October 10 and upcoming Champions League commitments.

Defender Alessandro Buongiorno, who was expected to anchor the backline this season, has been out since a serious meniscus operation in the summer and remains a long way from match fitness. Goalkeeper Alex Meret, injured against Arsenal in the Champions League, is targeting a return after the international break, though his place in the starting eleven is not guaranteed with Milinkovic-Savic providing competition.

There are some brighter signs. David Neres showed encouraging form in the draw at Fiorentina after months of recovery from ankle surgery, and Kevin De Bruyne delivered a commanding display for Belgium during the break, scoring twice against Turkey. Allegri will hope that form carries back to Naples. With Frosinone next up at the Maradona, the priority is simple: points.