Scott McTominay has revealed he was hospitalised under sedation to receive a cardiac shock just 48 hours before Scotland’s World Cup opener against Haiti in June.
McTominay’s absence from training at the time was put down to a stomach complaint. It emerged in August that the Napoli midfielder would undergo surgery to remedy an irregular heartbeat. The operation took place the following month, causing McTominay to miss Scotland’s opening Nations League match. He now disclosed that the issue arose in the United States while Scotland prepared for their World Cup fixture.
McTominay is now back in the international fold for Scotland’s upcoming fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland. Speaking to reporters in Glasgow, the 29‑year‑old said: “The World Cup was difficult for me to be honest. I had to go and get the shock on my heart. It was two days before the Haiti game and you have prepared so well. I was in such good condition and then something like that happens. And you think: ‘How is this happening to me?’ But then you have to get on with it.”
He added: “These are cards you are dealt in football. Sometimes things don’t go your way and you have to continue to do your best. It’s nowhere near an excuse but it’s something you have to look back on and say it’s part of the process.
‘Whenever you are sitting in a hospital bed two days before the first game at the World Cup, about to get put to sleep it’s not ideal, is it? When things like that happen it is what it is, there’s nothing you can do about it. After the World Cup I reflected on it and it’s probably the most disappointed I have been in my career.’
Scotland finished bottom of their group, and McTominay’s performances were among those criticised. The disappointing campaign also prompted the resignation of manager Steve Clarke. New boss Sébastien Pocognoli will select McTominay for the first time when North Macedonia visit Hampden Park on Friday.
McTominay returned to Napoli in early October. Since then he has scored five goals, including doubles against Bodø/Glimt and Roma. He has downplayed the seriousness of his heart problem.
“I’m feeling much, much better than what I was,” he said. “It [the operation] was something that needed to be done. In your career you have moments like that, where things can take you by surprise. It looks a lot worse to people in the media and family or friends who reach out to you when they see news relating to a heart issue, but it was a relatively straightforward procedure which went really, really well in Manchester. I’m really happy to be back and playing football again.
It was explained to me really well by the doctors at Napoli and my cardiologist in Manchester so the process was really straightforward. The doctor with Scotland when we were away at the World Cup explained, if that was going to be the case how it would look. All the staff members made me feel so relaxed about the situation.”
