Napoli's season is being defined as much by the treatment room as by the pitch. Seven players are currently sidelined, and the injury list has become the dominant story around the club as Massimiliano Allegri tries to find consistency in the early weeks of the campaign. The latest blow came during the international break, when Antonio Vergara suffered a muscle injury playing for Italy against Turkey, with subsequent scans confirming a soleo lesion that will keep him out for around six weeks. Mathías Olivera also picked up a muscle problem in training with Uruguay, adding to an already stretched squad.

The wider casualty list includes Buongiorno, who returned to Castelvolturno after knee surgery but remains a long way from match fitness, and Scott McTominay, whose return from a cardiac ablation procedure looks set to be delayed beyond initial expectations. Favasuli was also forced to leave the Italy Under-21 camp with a muscle injury.

On a more positive note, David Neres showed encouraging signs in the draw at Fiorentina, and Kevin De Bruyne underlined his quality with a two-goal performance for Belgium during the break, giving Allegri reasons for optimism. The coach is also understood to be considering a switch to a back three to better manage his available personnel.

Napoli sit ninth in Serie A with seven points from five games. They host Frosinone on October 10, a fixture that, given the circumstances, carries more pressure than the opposition's standing might suggest.