Napoli will not be able to call upon Scott McTominay as they face Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The former Manchester United midfielder has enjoyed a fine start in Serie A but has now undergone surgery to clear up a minor heart arrhythmia.
"I’m fine, the procedure was something I'd planned to do with the club for quite a while," McTominay said after the club announced plans for him to go under the knife.
Bad news for one player often means good news for another and Kevin De Bruyne is in line to make his first start of the season for Gli Azzurri. The former Manchester City ace has a fabulous record against the Gunners, scoring eight goals in 22 appearances against them.
De Bruyne came off the bench for Napoli in their opening day victory over Genoa, picking up one goal and one assist in the process. After three substitute appearances, the 35-year-old is set to start the match.
Two more former Premier League players are pushing for starts after coming off the bench for Massimiliano Allegri’s men in their away 3-2 defeat to Serie A champions Inter Milan at the weekend.
Billy Gilmour will also see McTominay’s absence as a chance to establish himself at the heart of Napoli’s midfield, while Chelsea loanee Benoît Badiashile will hope to come in for Amir Rrahmani or Spaniard Rafa Marin.
Another former United man will lead the line for Napoli. Rasmus Hojlund has already scored two this season and he will be looking to add to that against the Gunners.
David Neres will hope to come in to provide ammunition for the Dane, possibly ahead of Antonio Vergara, while Leonardo Spinazzola and Giovanni Di Lorenzo are expected to occupy the full-back positions.
Alessandro Buongiorno, Giovane and Marianucci remain absent for the home side.
Predicted Napoli XI: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Marin, Spinnazzola; Lobotka, Anguissa, De Bruyne; Neres, Alisson Santos, Hojlund
Injured: Boungiorno, Giovane, Marianucci, McTominay
Time and date: 8pm BST on Wednesday, September 09, 2026
How to watch: TNT Sports
Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
