Scott McTominay to Undergo Heart Procedure for Arrhythmia

Scott McTominay will step away from the pitch for a brief spell after Napoli confirmed the Scotland midfielder is to undergo a minor heart procedure following the discovery of “a mild benign arrhythmia”.

The 29-year-old was withdrawn after 56 minutes of Napoli’s 2-1 Serie A defeat by Como on Sunday, with the club later revealing the reason behind his substitution. Medical checks identified the irregular heartbeat, and Napoli have opted for corrective treatment “in the coming days”.

The club expect McTominay to be available again after the international break in early October. The player himself moved quickly to calm any wider concern, posting on Instagram: “See you soon Napoli. I won't take long.”

For Napoli, it is a short-term absence. For Scotland, the timing bites harder.

Impact on Scotland

New head coach Sebastien Pocognoli is set to begin his tenure without one of his most experienced midfielders. McTominay is likely to miss Scotland’s opening four fixtures under Pocognoli in the Nations League: a home-and-away double-header against Slovenia, followed by meetings with North Macedonia and Switzerland.

According to the NHS, an arrhythmia is an issue with the heart’s rhythm, where it can beat too quickly, too slowly or irregularly. In McTominay’s case, Napoli have stressed the problem is mild and benign, and the expectation is that he will return to full competitive action once the short procedure and recovery period are complete.

For now, Scotland must plan their first steps under a new manager without a key figure, while Napoli wait for the heartbeat of their midfield to return after a brief but significant pause.