McTominay scores four in two games as Napoli concede six

Four goals in two games. Scott McTominay scored twice in the 4-3 win over Bodø/Glimt on 20 October, Napoli's first win of this Champions League campaign. He then scored twice against Roma on Saturday, his first Serie A goals of the season.

It is worth remembering where he has come from. The number 8 missed all of September after an ablation, a procedure to correct an arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. Without him the team struggled.

His return did not fix things straight away. His first two starts were the 3-1 at Villarreal and the 1-0 at Venezia, who were bottom of the table at the time. He needed time too, and Napoli paid for it in the standings.

Then came the turnaround. But only half of one.

Read the whole scoresheet

Saturday's game has to be read in full. McTominay made it 2-0 in the 48th minute. Roma drew level through Soulé in the 69th and Balerdi in the 74th. McTominay put Napoli back in front in the 83rd, and Balerdi equalised again in the 89th, six minutes later. It finished 3-3.

Against Bodø/Glimt, Napoli scored four and conceded three. So across the two games that marked McTominay's revival, he scored four and the team let in six.

It is the same story as the 17 goals conceded in 11 games, and a Scot who scores does not solve it. The coach has to answer for that as well. The question among supporters is a simple one: have Napoli found a balance, or just a player good enough to paper over the gaps further forward?

The link with De Bruyne

The most interesting sign is not the goals. Massimiliano Allegri wants Kevin De Bruyne in a deeper role, to give McTominay the freedom to make runs into the box. A week earlier it was not certain that the Belgian, Player of the Month for September, would adapt to it.

Against Bodø/Glimt and Roma something could be seen: the ball starts with the number 11 deep and arrives in the box with the number 8. In our view, though, that set-up has to be judged above all when the opposition are attacking, and so far it has not convinced in those moments.

With these two, Napoli have the potential to climb. The numbers are what they are: tenth with 11 points after eight games, the worst start since 2009-10, nine points behind fourth-placed Como. Fourth place is exactly the target Allegri has set.

Meanwhile, work is under way on a new deal for McTominay, whose contract runs to 2028, worth €6m plus bonuses. Right now he is the player this season rests on.

On Wednesday 28 October at 20:45 CET (19:45 UK, 15:45 ET), Napoli face Juric's Monza at the U-Power Stadium. Monza are 15th with 7 points and have lost five of their eight games. Marco Landucci will be on the bench because Allegri is suspended. He will also miss the Juventus game on Sunday 1 November.

Napoli then travel to Porto on Wednesday 4 November. We will see whether McTominay again has to shoot three times to win what the team cannot hold on to.