Scott McTominay has revealed that he needed treatment for an irregular heartbeat two days before Scotland’s opening World Cup game, and was cleared to play. The Napoli midfielder told BBC Sport Scotland that doctors put him to sleep to correct his heart rhythm before the 1-0 win over Haiti in June, and that he feels “much, much better” after a planned procedure in Manchester this autumn.

Napoli announced in early September that McTominay had a minor heart rhythm problem and would have an ablation procedure. His comments add the treatment he needed during the World Cup itself.

What McTominay said about the World Cup treatment

The 29-year-old, who played in the Premier League for Manchester United until 2024, described the moment he found out. “I had to go and get the shock on my heart,” he said. “It was two days before the Haiti game. You’ve prepared so well. I was in such good condition and then something like that happens. You’re thinking, ‘how is this happening to me?'”

He was given the all-clear to play in the 1-0 win in Massachusetts, and he also played 90 minutes in the defeats by Morocco and Brazil. McTominay says he was fully fit in his own mind, but admitted the build-up was far from ideal. “Whenever you’re sat in a hospital bed two days before the first game of the World Cup about to get put to sleep, it’s not ideal, is it?” he said.

The September procedure in Manchester

The treatment this autumn was more planned. Napoli said on 1 September that McTominay had “a minor, benign arrhythmia” after he came off in the second half of the 2-1 defeat by Como. Al Jazeera reported that the club described the plan as a pulsed field ablation, a minimally invasive technique used to treat heart arrhythmias. BBC Sport describes ablation as a minimally invasive operation to correct irregular heart rhythms.

It was carried out on Tuesday 8 September at Spire Manchester Hospital. Napoli’s statement said McTominay would rest for two weeks before resuming training, and that the operation was a complete success.

McTominay also missed Scotland’s opening four Nations League fixtures, which brought a win, a draw and two defeats. He has since returned to domestic and Champions League action with Napoli. “I’m feeling much, much better than what I was,” he said. “I feel like it was something that needed to be done.”

The reaction: “a relatively straightforward procedure”

McTominay was keen to calm worries from fans. “Obviously, it looks a lot worse to people in the media and family and friends who reach out to you after they see news related to a heart issue, but it’s a relatively straightforward procedure, which went really, really well in Manchester,” he said. He praised Napoli and the medical staff who treated him, and said being back playing football is “the most important thing in my life”.

McTominay left United for Napoli in 2024. Anyone who follows his old club can find more on United’s current search for a manager in our Man Utd next manager piece.

What happens next

Scotland host North Macedonia on Friday 13 November and travel to Switzerland on Monday 16 November, and McTominay has been recalled to the squad. He said he wants to “prove myself again” and make sure he can “go to another level”.

Date	What happened
Sunday 30 August	Leaves the pitch in Napoli’s 2-1 defeat by Como
Tuesday 1 September	Napoli announce a minor, benign arrhythmia
Tuesday 8 September	Ablation procedure at Spire Manchester Hospital
Friday 13 November	Scotland v North Macedonia, Nations League
Monday 16 November	Switzerland v Scotland, Nations League

FAQ

What heart treatment did Scott McTominay have?

He had an ablation procedure, a minimally invasive operation to correct irregular heart rhythms, in Manchester in September. He also revealed treatment two days before the World Cup opener against Haiti.

Did McTominay play at the World Cup?

Yes. He played in the 1-0 win over Haiti and for 90 minutes in the defeats by Morocco and Brazil.

When does McTominay play for Scotland next?

Scotland host North Macedonia on Friday 13 November and visit Switzerland on Monday 16 November.