ONE TOUCH SUMMARY
- Scott McTominay underwent a successful heart ablation procedure at Spire Manchester Hospital on Tuesday.
- The surgery addressed a mild benign arrhythmia discovered after his substitution in Napoli's 2-1 loss to Como on 30 August.
- Napoli expect him to resume training this month and return to action after the October international break.
ONE TOUCH INSIGHT
McTominay’s heart procedure was a success, but the true measure of his recovery will be how quickly he can reclaim a starting role for Napoli and Scotland. The Scotland midfielder was withdrawn after 56 minutes of the 2‑1 loss to Como on 30 August, when a mild benign arrhythmia was spotted; the ablation carried out at Spire Manchester Hospital on Tuesday morning has now been declared a complete success, with Napoli expecting him back in training this month.
His Instagram promise – “See you soon Napoli. I won’t take long” – underlines the eagerness to return, yet the club’s two‑week rest window means any match fitness will have to be built in training before the international break in early October. Sebastien Pocognoli’s first four Nations League assignments – home and away against Slovenia plus fixtures with North Macedonia and Switzerland – are set for the end of September and early October, giving Scotland an early benchmark for his readiness.
His first appearance in those Scotland matches, or his inclusion in Napoli’s training group this month, will be the concrete test of whether the surgery has restored him to full competitive sharpness.
WHY IT MATTERS
McTominay's swift recovery from a cardiac procedure highlights advances in sports medicine and player welfare, allowing elite athletes to return to high-intensity football quickly after treating manageable heart conditions without long-term career impact.
TACTICAL FIT
His anticipated return bolsters Napoli's midfield depth ahead of a congested fixture schedule, providing manager Antonio Conte with a familiar box-to-box option who contributes defensively and supports transitions in Serie A and European competitions.
Scott McTominay's last game was on 30 August
By Andy Campbell
BBC Scotland
- Napoli have said Scott McTominay's heart surgery "was a complete success" and expect the Scotland midfielder to resume training this month.
The 29-year-old's ablation procedure - a minimally invasive operation to correct irregular heart rhythms - took place at Spire Manchester Hospital on Tuesday morning.
McTominay was substituted after 56 minutes of Napoli's 2-1 Serie A defeat by Como on 30 August.
A mild benign arrhythmia was discovered, prompting the corrective treatment.
Napoli, who said in statement, external that "McTominay will rest for two weeks and then resume training", had expected the former Manchester United player to return to action after the international break in early October.
When his heart issue was announced, McTominay posted on Instagram: "See you soon Napoli. I won't take long."
Sebastien Pocognoli's first four games as Scotland head coach - home and away against Slovenia as well as matches with North Macedonia and Switzerland in the Nations League - are scheduled for the end of September and early October.
According to the NHS,, external an arrhythmia is when the heart beats too quickly or too slowly, or the heartbeat is not steady.
The British Heart Foundation explains, external a cardiac arrhythmia ablation involves using heat or cold energy to create tiny scars in the heart to block faulty signals and restore a typical heartbeat.
AI-assisted · generated from BBC Sport reporting, not editor reviewed
