KOULIBALY OUT UNTIL 2022 AMID NAPOLI INJURY CRISIS

Napoli will be without Kalidou Koulibaly until the New Year after a Grade II thigh strain and he could also miss the Africa Cup of Nations, while Fabian Ruiz and Lorenzo Insigne hope to face Atalanta.

The Partenopei had a setback in last night’s 2-2 draw with Sassuolo, as they had been 2-0 up at the Mapei Stadium before crumbling in the final stages.

Some of that was down to losing Koulibaly to injury, as the Gian Marco Ferrari equaliser was a free header.

Tests have now shown that the Senegal international centre-back has sustained a Grade II strain to the left femoral bicep.

This sort of injury will keep Koulibaly out of action until the New Year, so is injured for at least four to five weeks.

It remains to be seen if he will recover in time to play the Africa Cup of Nations, in which case he’d not play for Napoli for two months.

As for the other two who limped off against Sassuolo, there is some hope of seeing them play in Serie A this weekend.

Fabian Ruiz has an inflammation of the adductor tendon in his right leg, while Insigne only suffered a twinge to the left soleus muscle.

A Napoli statement notes both will be re-evaluated ahead of Saturday’s match with Atalanta.

The Partenopei are already missing Victor Osimhen for three months after a clash of heads left him with multiple facial fractures, while Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa is out for a couple of weeks.