ONE TOUCH INSIGHT
McTominay’s minor heart procedure is less a setback than a reminder that clubs now treat any cardiac anomaly as a red line, even when the arrhythmia is labelled benign. The Scotland international and Napoli regular has become the engine that lets both sides press high and break lines with his box‑to‑box runs; removing him forces a tactical rethink rather than a simple personnel swap.
For Scotland, the midfield loses its most reliable carrier out of pressure, meaning players like Callum McGinn or Billy Gilmour must cover more ground to preserve the team’s shape against upcoming Nations League opponents. Napoli, meanwhile, will have to see whether their 4‑3‑3 press can stay aggressive without the Scottish midfielder’s stamina to close down passing lanes.
Scotland’s next Nations League outing will show if the side can sustain its intensity without McTominay, and whether Napoli can keep their pressing numbers steady in the next Serie A fixture.
AI-assisted · generated from BBC Sport reporting, not editor reviewed
