Serie A

Lack of McTominay rest may offer more Napoli game time to Gilmour

February 17, 2025

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Lack of McTominay rest may offer more Napoli game time to Gilmour

NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 26: Billy Gilmour of SSC Napoli controls the ball during the Coppa Italia match between SSC Napoli and Palermo at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 26, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Scotland international Scott McTominay has only missed 21 minutes since round five, so Antonio Conte is expected to give more playing time to Billy Gilmour in the coming matches.

The Partenopei have collected three consecutive draws in Serie A but remain the table leaders with a two-point lead over Inter.

Injuries to Leonardo Spinazzola, David Neres and Mathias Olivera forced Conte to switch to a three-man defence in an away game at Lazio on Saturday, but the Italian tactician could adopt more changes in the coming weeks.

Lack of McTominay rest may offer more Napoli game time to Gilmour

Napoli suffer major injury blow ahead of Inter title clash: Midfielder injured in Como defeat – Football Italia – February 25 latest — ROME, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Napoli players celebrate Adam Marusic of Lazio (not pictured) own goal during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Napoli at Stadio Olimpico on February 15, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

La Gazzetta dello Sport already highlighted how a lack of replacements in central midfield could affect the Partenopei’s title hopes, and the pink paper now reports that Scotland international Gilmour could be given more playing time in the upcoming matches.

Conte has repeatedly said that he’d love to give the ex-Brighton star more playing time, and according to Gazzetta, the time has finally come.

The newspaper notes that Stanislav Lobotka has only missed 20 minutes in the last 13 games, André Zambo Anguissa has rested for 46 minutes this season, and McTominay has only missed 21 minutes since Round five.

Gilmour is Lobotka’s backup on paper, but Conte could also deploy the Scotsman as a box-to-box midfielder.

Napoli can also rely on January signing Philip Billing who moved to the Maradona on loan with an option to buy from Bournemouth in the January window.