Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay will undergo a corrective heart procedure after doctors discovered what the club described as "a mild benign arrhythmia," a diagnosis that will keep him sidelined for several weeks and rule him out of Scotland's upcoming international commitments.
The 29-year-old was withdrawn after 56 minutes of Napoli's 2-1 Serie A defeat to Como on Sunday. Subsequent examinations revealed the irregular heart rhythm, prompting the club to schedule treatment described as cardiac arrhythmia ablation, a procedure that uses heat or cold energy to create small scars within the heart tissue in order to interrupt faulty electrical signals and restore a normal beat, according to the British Heart Foundation.
Napoli have stressed that the condition is not considered serious and carries no significant long-term health risk, though it will require McTominay to step away from action for a short period while he recovers from the corrective measure, which is expected to take place in the coming days.
The Scotland international took to social media to reassure supporters, posting on Instagram: "See you soon Napoli. I won't take long."
Napoli anticipate he will be fit to return to competitive action after the upcoming international break, with a comeback pencilled in for early October. In the meantime, his absence will be keenly felt on multiple fronts. McTominay is set to miss Napoli's opening Champions League group fixture against Arsenal next week, a significant blow given his importance to the Italian side after starting both of their opening Serie A matches this season.
The timing is also awkward for Scotland, who are entering a new era under incoming head coach Sebastien Pocognoli. The Belgian is preparing for an extended September international window that includes four Nations League matches — a double-header against Slovenia, followed by fixtures against Switzerland and North Macedonia. McTominay, one of Scotland's most experienced and influential players with 73 caps to his name, will not be part of the squad for any of those games as he focuses on his recovery.
His absence represents a notable setback for Pocognoli as he begins life in charge of the national team. McTominay played a prominent role for Scotland under previous manager Steve Clarke, including featuring in the squad that competed at the World Cup, and his experience and goal threat from midfield have made him a mainstay of the side in recent years.
At club level, Napoli will need to adjust without one of their key midfield figures during a busy early-season period that includes both domestic and European commitments. The Serie A champions have already shown they can call upon depth in that area of the pitch, with Billy Gilmour — a former club and international teammate of McTominay's — having returned to action in recent weeks following his own recovery from an injury that kept him out of the World Cup.
Both Napoli and the Scottish Football Association are expected to provide updates on McTominay's recovery timeline in the coming weeks, with all parties hopeful that the procedure will allow him to resume full training and matches shortly after the October international break concludes.
Based on reporting from The Independent and BBC Sport.