Napoli face Torino in Serie A on Friday night with new that both Kevin De Bruyne and Frank Zambo Anguissa return to the match-day squad after injury absences.
Both midfielders had been sidelined since late October and mid-November respectively, but manager Antonio Conte confirmed they would only be used from the bench as he carefully managed their recovery.
According to reports from La Repubblica, the shortened preparation time for the Friday fixture meant Napoli could not stage the usual training match Conte prefers to give returning players extra sharpness.
While the return of two experienced midfielders is welcome, Napoli’s squad has been hit by fresh problems in the same area of the pitch. Stanislav Lobotka suffered a muscular injury following last weekend’s win over Hellas Verona and joined Scott McTominay on the treatment table. Their absence means all four of Conte’s preferred central midfielders have been unavailable at the same time for the first time this season.
Napoli are also still without several other key players. Amir Rrahmani, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and David Neres remain long-term absentees as the team continues to battle injuries.
In midfield, Billy Gilmour and Eljif Elmas are expected to start. Romelu Lukaku will be among the substitutes alongside De Bruyne and Zambo Anguissa as Conte manages minutes carefully.
Napoli’s attack will have a youthful look, with Antonio Vergara, Rasmus Hojlund and Alisson Santos leading the line.
Despite their injury problems, Napoli have been formidable at home this season and remain unbeaten in Serie A at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Around 50,000 supporters are expected inside the stadium, adding to the atmosphere as Napoli chase another crucial victory in their push for Champions League qualification.
There will also be a familiar face on the opposing side, with Giovanni Simeone returning to Naples as a Torino player, providing an extra storyline for what promises to be an intense evening. With the race for European places tightening, Conte knows that making home advantage count could prove decisive.
