Scott McTominay's Heart Surgery Success and Return Timeline

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.

Further tests revealed a mild benign arrhythmia. The club moved quickly, opting for corrective treatment designed to stabilise his heartbeat and remove the risk of recurring problems.

Napoli confirmed in a statement that McTominay will rest for two weeks before rejoining full training. The initial plan had been for the former Manchester United midfielder to return to action after the international break in early October, and that timeline remains in play.

“See you soon Napoli. I won’t take long.”

McTominay himself tried to calm any anxiety with a short message on Instagram when the heart issue was made public.

His recovery will be watched closely in Scotland. Sebastien Pocognoli’s first four games as national head coach – home and away against Slovenia, plus Nations League fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland – are scheduled for the end of September and early October. McTominay’s availability for those matches will depend on how he responds once he is back in training.

According to the NHS, an arrhythmia is when the heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or with an irregular rhythm. For McTominay, the danger has been addressed early. Now the question is how quickly he can turn a successful operation into a full return to competitive football.