Scott McTominay's Heart Surgery Successful, Napoli Expects Quick Return

Napoli say Scott McTominay’s heart surgery “was a complete success” and expect the Scotland midfielder back in training before the month is out.

The 29-year-old underwent an ablation procedure on Tuesday morning at Spire Manchester Hospital, a minimally invasive operation used to correct irregular heart rhythms. The issue was picked up after he was taken off 56 minutes into Napoli’s 2-1 Serie A defeat by Como on 30 August, when tests revealed a mild benign arrhythmia.

Once the problem was identified, the decision was swift: fix it now, avoid bigger risks later.

In a statement, Napoli confirmed that McTominay will rest for two weeks before rejoining full training. The club had initially targeted a return to action after the international break in early October, and that timeline remains intact.

“See you soon Napoli. I won't take long,” he wrote on Instagram, a short message that cut through the uncertainty around a heart diagnosis.

According to the NHS, an arrhythmia occurs when the heart beats too fast, too slowly, or in an irregular pattern. For elite athletes, even a mild, benign version demands immediate attention.

The timing is delicate at international level. New Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli is preparing for his first four matches in charge – home and away against Slovenia, plus Nations League fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland – all squeezed into the end of September and early October.

Napoli expect McTominay to be back on the training pitch before that run begins. Whether he is ready to anchor Scotland’s midfield in Pocognoli’s opening games is the next question hanging over club and country alike.