NafisaScott McTominay is facing a spell on the sidelines after Napoli confirmed that the Scotland international will undergo a heart procedure in the coming days.
The midfielder’s absence will come as an unwelcome blow for both Napoli and Scotland, particularly with the new international campaign approaching and McTominay having established himself as an important figure for club and country.
The issue was discovered during routine medical examinations, with Napoli subsequently confirming that the 29-year-old has been diagnosed with a mild, benign cardiac arrhythmia.
Despite the worrying nature of the news, the condition has been described as benign, while the planned treatment is intended to correct the abnormal heart rhythm.
Napoli have confirmed that McTominay will undergo pulsed field ablation (PFA), a minimally invasive procedure used to treat certain abnormal heart rhythms. Rather than relying on heat or freezing, the treatment uses brief, high-energy electrical pulses.
The Italian club said: “Following the onset of a mild benign arrhythmia, Scott McTominay will undergo corrective surgery using a cardiac arrhythmia ablation (PFA) in the coming days.”
The timing of the procedure means McTominay is now expected to miss the upcoming international fixtures.
Napoli have indicated that the midfielder is not expected to return until after the international break, ruling him out of contention for Scotland’s next matches unless his recovery progresses significantly faster than anticipated.
That will be particularly frustrating for newly appointed Scotland head coach Sebastian Pocognoli, who is preparing to name his first squad for the Nations League fixtures against Slovenia and Switzerland later this month.
McTominay has become one of Scotland’s most influential players in recent years, while his performances in Italy have also underlined his importance to Napoli.
For now, though, the priority will be ensuring that the midfielder makes a full recovery following the procedure.
The fact Napoli have described the arrhythmia as mild and benign should provide some reassurance, but McTominay will nevertheless need time to recover before returning to competitive action.
His absence leaves Napoli without an important midfield option in the short term, while Scotland will also have to prepare for their upcoming fixtures without one of their established stars.
McTominay’s recovery will now be closely monitored in the coming days, with his return date dependent on how he responds to treatment.
Nafisa
