McTominay named October Player of the Month after four goals in six games

Napoli's No 8 is the club's Player of the Month for October. Supporters chose McTominay in a vote on the club's official app, and his numbers for the month back them up: four goals in six games across Serie A and the Champions League, including two braces.

He also played against Frosinone, Villarreal, Venezia and Monza during the month. At 29, McTominay is one of the few players who have kept up a recognisable level in this start to the season. He has 32 goals in 89 appearances for Napoli and a contract until 2028. A new deal is still pending.

An award that does not change the table

It needs saying plainly, because the fanbase is already thinking it: no brace changes the fact that Napoli-Roma ended 3-3, or that Bodø/Glimt scored three goals at the Maradona. McTominay's goals earned points, but not enough of them. As of Monday 9 November, Napoli are tenth with 15 points after 11 rounds. That is 9 points off fourth place, the target Allegri has set, and 14 behind the leaders, Lazio.

There is also an awkward question. When the best player of the month is a midfielder who arrives late in the box and scores this regularly, the team clearly depends on him heavily, and the goals are not coming from anywhere else.

Against Lazio on Sunday 8 November, all six of Napoli's shots on target were saved, and the equaliser was an own goal. McTominay was involved in that ball along with Højlund, but the problem in attack has not gone anywhere.

The award is his, and he deserves it. But the supporter who voted for him on the app expects three points against Torino at the Maradona on Saturday 21 November, kick-off 20:45 CET (19:45 UK, 14:45 ET). That supporter does not want another side that only holds up in patches. October's award will only mean something if November changes the story.