Dries Mertens put four goals past England's Joe Hart as rampant Napoli completed a memorable 5-3 win over Torino to move up to third place in Serie A Sunday.

Mertens has been pushed into the main striker's role by coach Maurizio Sarri to fill in for missing centre-forward Arkadiusz Milik, who is scheduled to return from a knee ligament injury in January.

The diminutive Belgium forward has seized the day in astonishing fashion for the southerners, who continue to thrive following the departure of 36-goal hero Gonzalo Higuain to Juventus last summer.

At the San Paolo on Sunday, the 29-year-old completed his hattrick, including one from the spot, by the 22nd minute as Napoli laid the foundations for a win that moved them up to third, eight points behind leaders Juventus.