Napoli's Kvaratskhelia sidelined with knee injury

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is set to be out of action until January after Napoli said on Tuesday that the Georgia winger picked up a right knee injury in the weekend's Serie A defeat to Lazio.

"Tests carried out today showed that he suffered a knock to the medial collateral ligament," said Napoli, without saying for how long Kvaratskhelia would be sidelined.

Italian media report that Kvaratskhelia, a star of Napoli's historic Serie A title win in 2022/23, will miss Napoli's remaining three league fixtures of 2024.

The 23-year-old has scored five goals and set up three more for Napoli this season, but hasn't netted since a 2-0 win at AC Milan at the end of October.

Sunday's 1-0 loss to Lazio meant Napoli, who are at Udinese on Saturday, gave up top spot in Serie A to Atalanta.

Antonio Conte's side sit second in Italy's top flight, two points from the summit and with three teams just a point behind them.