McTominay undergoes successful heart ablation and faces two weeks on the sidelines

Scott McTominay successfully underwent a heart ablation procedure at Spire Manchester Hospital on Tuesday after being diagnosed with a mild benign arrhythmia — an irregular heart rhythm considered non-serious and posing no significant danger to his long-term health. Napoli confirmed the operation was “a complete success” and that the 29-year-old will rest for two weeks before resuming training.

The Italian club had flagged the issue last week, stating McTominay should be “available again after the international break.” The procedure rules him out of Napoli’s Champions League fixture against Arsenal on Wednesday, as well as Serie A matches against Bologna and Fiorentina. If his recovery goes smoothly, he could return for Napoli’s first post-international-break game against Frosinone on 10 October.

On the international front, McTominay will miss the start of Sebastien Pocognoli’s tenure as Scotland manager, sitting out Nations League fixtures against Slovenia (twice), Switzerland, and North Macedonia.

The midfielder had started Napoli’s opening two Serie A matches this season before being substituted in the 56th minute of a 2-1 home defeat to Como on 30 August. He then watched from the sidelines as Napoli squandered a two-goal lead in a 3-2 loss to Inter Milan on Saturday. Matteo Politano and Rasmus Hojlund had put Massimiliano Allegri’s side in command early in the second half, but Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram levelled before Martinez struck in the first minute of added time to complete Inter’s comeback.

Now in his third season at Napoli following his departure from Manchester United, McTominay was a key figure in the club’s Serie A title win in 2024-25.