Napoli's season has been riddled by injuries, with Conte continually naming shorthanded substitutes benches. The likes of Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne have spent lengthy spells on the sidelines, while McTominay has soldiered on through the pain.
At his post-match press conference, Conte said of McTominay's injury: "It's a tendon problem he's had since the start of the year. It hurts him every now and then, it doesn't stop him from playing, but he plays at reduced speeds. He would have continued, but I'd rather have a player who is 100 percent fit than risk a key player like him.
"It's a crazy season. If we're all intelligent people we'll have to think about the composition of the squad, the transfer market we've done, and many other things, like the fact that we can't draw from the youth system. Long-term injuries like those of De Bruyne and Lukaku have also come into play, as have [Andre-Frank Zambo] Anguissa and [Billy] Gilmour, who underwent surgery but continues to have problems."
Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights withGOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!