McTominay has now returned to the Scotland squad for the first time since undergoing heart surgery

Scott McTominay returns to squad as James Penrice earns first Scotland call-up

Scott McTominay to undergo heart procedure

Scott McTominay's heart procedure a 'complete success'

Scott McTominay has revealed he had a shock on his heart just two days before the start of Scotland’s World Cup campaign.

The talismanic midfielder was missing from training before the opening match against Haiti on June 14, which was put down to a sickness bug.

He has now revealed that it was actually because he had to have his heart shocked.

McTominay, who went on to play the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 win over Haiti and started the next two games against Morocco and Brazil, admitted the campaign was “difficult”.

“The World Cup, it was difficult for me to be honest, whenever it finished”, he said.

“Obviously I had to go and get the shock on my heart, that was two days before the Haiti game and you’ve prepared so well I was in such good condition, and something like that happens and you’re thinking ‘no no no, how is this happening to me’.

“But then you have to get on with it, that’s the cards that you’re dealt in football, sometimes things don’t go your way and you have to continue to do the best.”

The Scotland star has since undergone corrective treatment using a cardiac arrhythmia ablation after “a mild benign arrhythmia” was discovered.

The 29-year-old underwent the procedure at Spire Manchester Hospital in September, which was a complete success.

“It’s nowhere near an excuse, but it’s something you have to look back on and say, oh well, it’s part of the process, you know”, he added.

“And obviously the way the World Cup went, it was at least two or three weeks of me sitting there disappointed, not quite with it mentally, and I needed time to settle down and have a break.”

McTominay has now returned to the Scotland squad for the upcoming games against North Macedonia and Switzerland.