Osimhen STARTS blockbuster Inter clash in major boost to Napoli

It has been almost two months since Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen last started for Napoli.

The former Wolfsburg player picked up an injury while on international duty for Nigeria, and was sidelined for over a month.

Although Osimhen returned to action late last month, he's still yet to start for the Partenopei.

The 24-year-old came on as a substitute to assist Napoli's winner over Atlanta last weekend. He also replaced Giovanni Simeone after the half-time break in their 4-2 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Understandably, Walter Mazzarri has gradually increased Osimhen's playing time over the last week. However, Il Corriere Dello Sport reports that the 62-year-old head coach will hand Osimhen his first start since 8 October.

This comes ahead of a crucial encounter with second-placed Inter. The Milan outfit are currently on an 11-match unbeaten run across all competitions, with eight wins and three draws.

Victor Osimhen in action for Napoli — Credit: Icon Sport

Where do the Partenopei stand ahead of their clash with Inter?

At the time of publishing, Napoli are currently in fourth place on the Serie A table. They've amassed 24 points from 13 league matches so far, and are nine points behind league leaders Juventus.

On the other hand, Inter have 10 wins in 13 league games this season and are just a point behind Juventus, having played one game less. It's worth mentioning that should the Nerazzurri defeat Napoli, they'll overtake Juventus for the top spot.

What happened the last time Victor Osimhen started for Napoli?

We've already established that Osimhen's last start for the Partenopei was on 8 October. It's also worth mentioning that they suffered a 3-1 loss at home to Fiorentina in that game. While the former Wolfsburg striker converted from the spot, it wasn't enough for Napoli to avoid a defeat.