Scott McTominay reveals heart surgery before World Cup opener

Procedure details and timing

In September, the Napoli midfielder had a cardiac ablation performed in Manchester. This minimally invasive operation corrected a mild, benign heart arrhythmia that first appeared when he arrived in the United States in early June. The condition continued to affect him while playing for his club in Italy throughout August. He required anesthesia and was put to sleep just two days before the match against Haiti.

Initial cover up and return

Scotland's camp initially stated he missed training due to a stomach complaint to keep the situation under wraps. McTominay played all three group stage matches but struggled mentally after sitting in a hospital bed before the opener. He admitted feeling disappointed for several weeks following the tournament exit at the group stage. At the beginning of this season, the ex-Manchester United athlete came back into play for Napoli.

Current status and upcoming fixtures

Sebastien Pocognoli had not selected him for the initial four games as Scotland's new manager before bringing him back to the team. The midfielder is now back for the Nations League double-header against North Macedonia and Switzerland later this month. Since the final international break, he has appeared in every one of the nine matches for his club. McTominay stated he feels much better than what he was after the corrective procedure.