Spinazzola doubtful for Fiorentina after hamstring strain

Leonardo Spinazzola did not train with the group at Castel Volturno on Friday morning. The left-back was sidelined by a strain in his right hamstring, and with two days to go before the trip to Florence on Sunday 20 September, his place in the squad for the Franchi is in serious doubt. A full recovery in time for the game is far from guaranteed.

Anguissa returns, but only in part

There is some, partial, relief on the André-Frank Anguissa front. Friday morning's report from Castel Volturno noted his return to the pitch, though in an individualised programme: the Cameroon midfielder is still combining that with gym work to shake off the adductor strain that has already ruled him out against Arsenal and Bologna. His availability for the Franchi remains very unlikely, but Allegri expects to have him back after the international break.

The injury list adds to a difficult start to the season on the pitch: Napoli are tenth with 6 points after four matchdays, and Sunday's win over Bologna ended a run of three straight defeats without settling doubts over the fitness of a squad that remains the oldest in Serie A. Every strain counts double at this stage: it removes an option for Allegri and feeds the sense of a team struggling to last the distance in the opening weeks of the season.

Napoli need a result at the Franchi on Sunday 20 September at 12:30 CET to bring some order to an uneven start. With Spinazzola in doubt and Anguissa still unavailable, Allegri will have to rely on the players already used in recent games; the final squad list will be confirmed in the coming hours.