Italian media use one word to describe Scott McTominay after moment in latest Napoli game causes huge swing in Serie A title race

Antonio Conte's Napoli seized control of the title race in Italy on Sunday and former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay was in the thick of the action yet again.

Napoli beat Torino 2-0 at the Diego Maradona after Inter Milan's surprise home loss against Roma to go three points clear of the Nerazzurri in the fight for the Scudetto.

The close contest at the top of the table has increased the possibility of Inter and Antonio Conte's Napoli finishing level on points and a play-off being required to determine the champions.

If McTominay keeps up his winning form, Napoli won't need a tie-breaker.

The Scotland international scored both of their goals in the first half on Sunday, his 10th and 11th as a Serie A player.

It's a remarkable return even for a player whose overall performances have matched up to his potency in front of goal.

McTominay has quickly become a darling of the notoriously forthright Italian sports press and of Gazzetta dello Sport in particular.

Italy's leading sports daily doubled down on its love for the former Man Utd man on Sunday, proclaiming him a "genius" after another major contribution in Naples.

"Scott McTominay is a genius," wrote Antonio Giordano.

It's certainly starting to look that way. The Lancastrian has now scored more Serie A goals than Paul Gascoigne and is in the hunt to win the title, a goal Gazza didn't achieve in his time at Lazio.

McTominay joined Napoli last summer for a reported fee of £25.7 million, bringing to an end his 20-year association with the club.

Napoli star Scott McTominay pictured (Image: Getty)

While he often grabbed a goal or two in big moments for the Red Devils and has demonstrated a similar ability in key games for Scotland, few expected him to hit quite these heights in a Napoli shirt.

He wasn't the only Scottish international goal-getter on the field on Sunday. His international teammate Che Adams has scored nine times in Serie A since switching to Torino last year, but McTominay passed another Torino player to become his country's top Serie A scorer.

"McTominay’s double took him to 11 goals for the season and above Denis Law, who scored 10 for Torino in 1961-62, as the most prolific Scottish player in a single season in Italy’s top league," reported PA.

Napoli's Scudetto dream is in their own hands. Their remaining fixtures are against Lecce, Genoa, Parma and Cagliari.