#INSERT type:image caption:Insigne has started nine of Napoli's 11 Serie A games this season. END#
Napoli and Italy forward Lorenzo Insigne has been ruled out for up to six months after tearing cruciate knee ligaments during Sunday's 1-0 win over Fiorentina.
In a statement on their official website, Napoli said the 23-year-old was due to undergo surgery on Monday.
Speaking before the injury had been fully diagnosed, Napoli coach Rafa Benitez told Tuttosport: "Losing Insigne really isn't good news. To lose a player like him for a long time can never be a good thing."
Insigne -- whose shortest recovery time is likely to be four months -- has started nine of Napoli's 11 Serie A games this season and had been set to be named in Italy coach Antonio Conte's latest squad.
Conte instead turned to Atletico Madrid's Alessio Cerci for the forthcoming Euro 2016 qualifier against Croatia and the friendly match with Albania.
He will not be able to consider selecting Insigne again until a friendly with England in March at the earliest, and the player may have to wait until Italy face Croatia in June before being able to add to his six caps.
Earlier this month, Insigne extended his contract with Napoli by another year, committing him to the club until the end of the 2018-19 season.