Napoli’s Kevin De Bruyne is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring injury while converting a penalty against Inter Milan, as confirmed by team manager Gabriele Oriali. The 34-year-old midfielder, who joined Napoli from Manchester City in the summer, will undergo surgery, with his absence expected to last between three to four months. De Bruyne, who has netted four goals for Napoli this season, including three penalties and a free-kick, had to be substituted immediately after scoring against Inter.
Oriali provided a glimmer of hope to Napoli supporters by announcing that Romelu Lukaku is set to return to training this week after recovering from a thigh injury sustained during a pre-season friendly. However, there was no exact timeline given for Lukaku’s return to competitive action. Napoli, currently leading Serie A on goal difference ahead of Roma, will continue their title defense against Lecce. Antonio Conte’s side is level on points with Roma at 18 in the league standings.