Napoli returned from the international break with their most convincing performance of the season, beating Frosinone 3-0 at the Maradona to give Massimiliano Allegri genuine cause for optimism. The result matters not just for the three points but for what it signals about the team's direction. Allegri shifted to a back three, placed Kevin De Bruyne in a central midfield role, and got an immediate response. The Belgian was outstanding, scoring twice and driving the play with a quality that had been missing in earlier weeks. It was the kind of display that suggests the tactical reset could stick.

The injury crisis that had clouded the build-up to the match remains a real concern. Buongiorno, Olivera, Anguissa, Vergara and others are all sidelined, and the squad depth is being tested. The one significant boost came from Scott McTominay, who returned to the group after his ablation procedure for a benign arrhythmia and came off the bench against Frosinone to a warm reception from the crowd. His gradual reintegration gives Allegri another option in the weeks ahead.

Napoli sit seventh in Serie A with 10 points from six games, close enough to the top half to recover but with no margin for further slip-ups. The next test arrives quickly: a Champions League away fixture at Villarreal on Tuesday, where they need a response after losing their opening European game to Arsenal.