Napoli’s Serie A title ambitions have been dealt a blow with their leading scorer Victor Osimhen ruled out for around three months following surgery on his jaw and eye socket.
The 22-year-old Nigerian, who has scored five times this season, suffered severe facial injuries in Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Inter Milan.
Osimhen’s injury has also ruled him out of the African Nations Cup, which begins in Cameroon on January 9.
Napoli will also be without Italy international Lorenzo Insigne in Wednesday’s Europa League match with Spartak Moscow. The club captain did not travel to Russia due to a knee injury.
Victory in Moscow will guarantee Napoli progress to the knock-out stage of the competition while domestically they lead the table on goal difference, level on 32 points with AC Milan, after 13 games.
