Gilmour gives Conte selection headache at Napoli

Scotland international Billy Gilmour could be handed more opportunities for Napoli approaching the 2024-25 run-in, as outlets in Italy suggest that he is now able to provide Antonio Conte with a reliable rotation option in midfield after a long settling-in period. 

Gilmour set for increased game time at Napoli?

Gilmour joined Napoli alongside his international colleague Scott McTominay during the summer transfer window, and while McTominay has proved an ‘undroppable’ member of Conte’s side, Gilmour has had to be more patient for first-team opportunities. 

That is because Conte stuck with a settled and established midfield of McTominay alongside 2022-23 Serie A winners Stanislav Lobotka and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa for the early stages of the 2024-25 campaign. 

That meant that Gilmour had to wait until October for his first Serie A start, which came as a result of a month-long injury to Lobotka. Though he deputised well for the Slovakian, Gilmour’s next Serie A start after that run came on March 1, due to an injury to Anguissa this time around. 

Having impressed again over his last three Serie A matches – seeing more of the ball than any other player in the recent 0-0 draw with Venezia over the fine settimana – Corriere dello Sport predicts that he will see more matchday action heading into the crucial last nine games of the 2024-25 season, particularly with persisting doubts over Anguissa’s fitness. 

Corriere dello Sport suggests that Conte now has a genuine rotation option in midfield, and different solutions depending on his opponent, which was not the case at the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign.