According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Lobotka was stretchered off against Monza and is expected to be out for 5 to 7 weeks, with a potential return before the end of 2024.
When Lobotka was stretchered off, there were concerns he had suffered a more serious injury, but he is likely to return to the pitch before the end of 2024. Lobotka's injury is a tibiofibular syndesmosis injury near the ankle, along with a low-grade anterior talofibular ligament injury in his left ankle. Combining both injuries, his recovery time is estimated to be 5 to 7 weeks, provided there are no complications or delays during rehabilitation. Lobotka could return during the double-header week when Napoli host Club Brugge on December 8, and Milan five days later.
Injury Status
In yesterday's match against Monza, Lobotka was forced to leave the field after just 15 minutes. After a challenge with Ricardo Mangas, his opponent landed on his left ankle. Lobotka explained the impact to the medical team and clearly indicated with gestures that his ankle had twisted unnaturally. He was unable to walk off the pitch himself and was eventually stretchered off to applause from the crowd. In the upcoming matches, Lobotka's absence will require Napoli to adjust their midfield setup, with Anguissa and McTominay likely to feature prominently in the central midfield.