McTominay out of Scotland squad due to minor heart procedure
Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay will undergo a minor heart procedure after being diagnosed with a mild benign arrhythmia, Napoli announced. The 29-year-old is expected to return after the international break in early October, meaning he will miss Scotland's first four matches under new coach Sebastien Pocognoli. He was substituted early in Sunday's Serie A loss to Como.
McTominay was pulled from Sunday's Serie A match against Como after 56 minutes, with Napoli later revealing the arrhythmia diagnosis. The corrective procedure, known as cardiac ablation, uses heat or cold energy to create small scars in the heart that block faulty electrical signals and restore a normal rhythm. Napoli anticipate his return following the October international break.
The timing means McTominay will miss Scotland's opening four Nations League fixtures under new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli, including a home-and-away series with Slovenia plus matches against North Macedonia and Switzerland. The NHS defines an arrhythmia as an irregular heartbeat, whether too fast, too slow, or unsteady. The condition was described as mild and benign.
This news could briefly unsettle Scotland supporters, as McTominay is a key midfielder and the team is adjusting to a new coach. However, the procedure is described as minor and routine, so the long-term impact may be limited. The main concern may be short-term squad depth during a competitive Nations League window, though his expected return in October suggests minimal disruption to the broader campaign.