Napoli chance for Gilmour as Lobotka faces spell on the sidelines | OneFootball

With Stanislav Lobotka expected to remain out of action for at least three weeks, Scotland international Billy Gilmour will likely get a chance to start for the Partenopei in the coming matches.

Napoli will be forced to cope without Lobotka for nearly a month after the Slovakia international suffered a muscle injury during the latest Serie A match against Genoa. Lobotka was still called up to his national team, but had to withdraw following medical tests.

Gilmour expected to replace Lobotka in Napoli XI

NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 22: Billy Gilmour of SSC Napoli scores his side first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Pisa SC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 22, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

As reported by Gazzetta, Lobotka’s injury will give Gilmour a chance to start in the upcoming Napoli matches.

Gilmour is Lobotka’s backup at the Stadio Maradona, but Corriere dello Sport suggests that with a packed fixture list ahead, Conte could even use Kevin De Bruyne as a deep-lying playmaker in some matches.

Napoli’s busy fixture list

NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 22: Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Pisa SC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 22, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

The Partenopei will visit Torino in Serie A and PSV in the Champions League after the international break and will then host Inter at the Stadio Maradona on October 25.

Lobotka has been Napoli’s regular starter in the regista role under Antonio Conte, while Gilmour has made 35 appearances since moving to the Stadio Maradona in 2024 and scored his first Serie A goal in September in a 3-2 win over Pisa.