Napoli’s star striker, Rasmus Hojlund, will reportedly miss tonight’s critical Serie A encounter against AC Milan. The young forward has been struck down by a sudden illness, prompting speculation that either Giovane or Alisson Santos might be called upon to fill his shoes.
The highly anticipated match is scheduled to kick off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 19:45 UK time (20:45 CEST). This fixture holds significant weight for the Serie A title race, with the victorious side positioning themselves to maintain pressure on league leaders Inter.
Napoli Faces Milan Without Key Striker Hojlund
Hojlund was initially expected to make his 30th consecutive start for Napoli, but concerns regarding his fitness emerged earlier today. While initial assumptions pointed towards an injury sustained during international duty with Denmark, it has since been clarified that the issue is entirely different.
Reports indicate that Hojlund began feeling unwell last night, experiencing a high fever, vomiting, and a stomach bug. He remains in no condition to play and is therefore unlikely to even be named among the substitutes for tonight’s pivotal game.
The 23-year-old has been a prolific scorer for Napoli, leading the team with 14 goals and four assists across 37 competitive appearances this season. His absence represents a significant setback for coach Antonio Conte, who is already grappling with a lengthy injury list including Romelu Lukaku, David Neres, Antonio Vergara, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, and Amir Rrahmani.
With Hojlund unavailable, Giovane stands as the only recognized striker in the squad. However, there are suggestions that Alisson Santos could be deployed in a False 9 role as an alternative solution for Napoli’s attacking woes.