Badiashile has played 10 minutes as Napoli waits on him, Neres and Beukema

Five matchdays into a season in which Napoli's attack is struggling to click, different players sit on the margins for different reasons — one short of full fitness, one yet to rediscover his level after a January injury, one simply waiting for his chance.

by Rosaria CimminoThursday 24 September, 22:54 CET· 2 hours ago

Badiashile, appena 10 minuti giocati: il Napoli aspetta ancora lui, Neres e Beukema — Grafica Arena Napoli

Ten minutes. That is all Benoît Badiashile, the French centre-back signed from Chelsea, has played this season. He collected them in the chaotic closing stages of Inter-Napoli 3-2, the only time head coach Allegri has sent him on. He has not featured since.

Badiashile never fully recovered his fitness after that appearance. The international break, with two friendlies scheduled, will also be used to test him on that front.

Neither sporting director Giovanni Manna nor Allegri has ever doubted Badiashile, but the faith expressed in words has yet to show up on the pitch. The first friendly comes on Saturday 26 September against Avellino at the Partenio — a real chance to finally see him play a full match.

Neres carries the heaviest weight

The most delicate case, though, is David Neres. Since injury last January, the Brazilian has not found his previous level: 84 minutes across five matchdays, never a full game.

With Alisson Santos sidelined until the end of October and Noa Lang's performances marked down almost every time he has played, it is Neres who risks carrying the weight of an attack that is struggling to make an impact. He built an interesting understanding with Højlund last season, and it is that pairing Allegri hopes to restore as soon as possible.

The numbers explain the urgency. Napoli sit ninth with 7 points after five matchdays — 2 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats, 7 goals scored, 6 conceded. Back-to-back positive results are not enough to hide a forward line struggling to produce, and every absence counts double when the alternatives on the pitch do not convince.

Sam Beukema adds a third name to the list, still on zero league minutes after only recovering full fitness in the past few days. The break is his test too, as it is for Giovane, expected back this week and able to play either as a wide forward or as an alternative to Højlund through the middle.

Two of the few players who have impressed so far are not faring much better for minutes: Favasuli has played just 95, all of them rated positively, while Vergara is at 162. The league resumes with Napoli-Frosinone on Saturday 10 October at the Maradona — the point by which Allegri will need to start untangling all of these issues together.