Napoli vs AS Roma - We want to win for injured star Arkadiusz Milik

Posted Friday, October 14, 2016 by PA

Napoli will bid to overcome Roma in Saturday's Serie A clash to pay tribute to injured striker Arkadiusz Milik.

Milik suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage on Poland duty and will be sidelined for up to six months, leaving Manolo Gabbiadini to fill the void.

Full-back Elseid Hysaj has admitted Napoli now have extra motivation to see off Roma, aiming to secure a victory and dedicate that to the luckless Milik.

Milik was meant to offset the summer's loss of Gonzalo Higuain to Juventus, but Hysaj insists Gabbiadini in turn can now step up as Napoli's focal point in attack.

"We all feel for Arek," Hysaj told Napoli's official club website.

"We are aiming to play a great game, and also for Milik. We hope we will win and if we get a positive result then we will devote our game to him.

"If Gabbiadini plays he will prove his value because we have a complete squad."

Roma head to Napoli with no fresh injury concerns, while the hosts will wait on defender Raul Albiol as he continues to battle hamstring trouble.

Roma will bid to secure consecutive league victories for the first time this season, following their win over Inter Milan.

While champions Juventus have again set the early Serie A pace, defender Bruno Peres believes Roma can still weigh into the title race.

"It's only just begun but you've got Juventus, Napoli and ourselves, these teams have all started the season well," Peres told Roma's official club website.

"The competition is still wide open. We're still at the start and we have to work very hard and try to do well because the league will not be done and dusted until after the final match."

Peres has warned his Roma team-mates not to underestimate Napoli in the wake of Milik's injury-enforced absence.

"We know how difficult it is to play in that stadium against such a strong side," said Peres.

"We have to roll up our sleeves and try to play at our best because we have a tough game in store.

"Milik is a big loss for them because he's a great player, very strong, but the way they play is a bit different and even without him they're a frightening prospect.

"We have to try to put in a superb performance."