'Scotland's Gilmour struggled in first Serie A start'published at 16:42 22 October
Billy Gilmour will have to make a "huge impact" to become a Napoli regular after enduring "quite a difficult" first Serie A start.
That's according to Italian football writer Alasdair MacKenzie, who said Antonio Conte's side "had a tough time" in their narrow win over Empoli on Sunday.
The game was decided by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's second-half penalty, meaning Napoli are top of the table after eight games, but Scotland's Gilmour "struggled to dictate the tempo" in the narrow win.
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, MacKenzie said: "It wasn't really Gilmour's fault, but Napoli were away to an Empoli side that have been one of the surprises of the season so far.
"They hadn't conceded a single goal at home all season long and the only goal they did concede in this game was from a penalty.
"So I think Napoli were caught a little bit by surprise, particularly in the first half. Gilmour was struggling to dictate the tempo and run the game in the way he likes to.
"Conte was still pretty positive about him after the game, even though it wasn't a match where he was a standout player.
"But Gilmour is going to have to seize these chances because he is second choice in his position to Stanislav Lobotka, the Slovakian playmaker who's had a really, really good start to the season."