Gilmour problem adds to Napoli injury crisis

Just as the Napoli injury crisis seemed to be calming down, it has flared up again, as Billy Gilmour limped off with a muscular problem during the game with Como.

See how that game unfolds on the Liveblog.

The Partenopei had been celebrating the return to the starting XI of Amir Rrahmani after two months out, while Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund also came back from the opening whistle.

Stanislav Lobotka was on the bench after a month-long absence too, and it is Gilmour who had been filling in for the midfield maestro during this period.

Gilmour stumbled and went down, immediately waving to the bench during the first half of this evening’s Serie A match against Como at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

He hobbled off with a reported muscular issue, and Antonio Conte asked Lobotka if he felt ready to make his comeback for almost an hour of football.

However, as the 30-year-old was unsure of his fitness levels, the coach called on Eljif Elmas instead.

This prompted a change of tactics, from the 4-3-3 formation to a 4-2-3-1, pushing Elmas into a more advanced role.

Kevin De Bruyne was ruled out for three to four months after muscular surgery this week, joining Alex Meret and Romelu Lukaku on the treatment table.

Como had already been forced into a change during the opening minutes, losing Marc-Oliver Kempf to a sprained ankle.