Scott McTominay to Undergo Minor Heart Procedure

Napoli have confirmed that Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay will undergo a minor heart procedure after the discovery of what the club described as "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The 29-year-old was withdrawn after 56 minutes of Napoli’s 2-1 Serie A defeat by Como on Sunday, with the club now opting for corrective treatment "in the coming days". The issue has been identified as an irregular heartbeat, with the condition labelled mild and benign.

Napoli expect McTominay to return to action after the international break in early October, a timeline that offers reassurance for club and player alike. The procedure is considered minor, but the decision to act quickly underlines how seriously elite clubs treat any cardiac concern.

The timing, though, hits Scotland hard.

McTominay is now likely to miss Sebastien Pocognoli’s first four matches in charge of the national team in the Nations League – a home-and-away double-header against Slovenia, plus fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland. For a new head coach trying to stamp his identity on the side, losing one of his most experienced and influential midfielders is a significant early setback.

According to the NHS, an arrhythmia is when the heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or with an irregular rhythm. In McTominay’s case, the description of the condition as mild and benign points towards a positive outlook, but the medical team will take no chances.

Napoli’s plan is clear: fix the problem now, give him the international window to recover, and have him ready for the grind of the season to come. Scotland, meanwhile, must begin a new era without one of their key men.