Scott McTominay to undergo surgery for heart issue

Manchester United’s academy has produced few graduates whose post-Old Trafford careers have taken off quite like Scott McTominay.

Jose Mourinho handed him his senior debut against Arsenal back in 2017, the start of a journey that would eventually take in 255 appearances, an FA Cup and an EFL Cup before his exit in the summer of 2024.

His £25.7million move to Napoli was viewed by some at the time as United cashing in on a squad player, only for Antonio Conte to reinvent him in a more advanced role and watch him inspire a Serie A title in his very first season.

That resurgence has continued under new management in Naples this season, making news elsewhere in his career all the more unwelcome now.

Scott McTominay will return to Napoli’s squad only after the international break, though not because of the blister issues that had limited his training in recent weeks.

The club confirmed via official statement on their website the “onset of a mild benign arrhythmia,” which will require a corrective ablation procedure in the coming days.

McTominay is set to miss upcoming fixtures against Inter, Arsenal, Bologna and Fiorentina as a result, with Napoli’s own estimates suggesting a return for the Frosinone clash on the weekend of 10-11 October.

The Scotland international will also be unavailable for his country’s Nations League matches against Slovenia twice, Switzerland and North Macedonia, a blow given his growing importance to Steve Clarke’s side.

McTominay has become one of Scotland’s most influential players in recent seasons, scoring a spectacular overhead kick against Denmark last year to help secure the nation’s first World Cup qualification in almost three decades.

Massimiliano Allegri had previously flagged the persistent blister problem as the reason behind McTominay’s reduced training and underwhelming display against Como, before the more serious heart issue emerged.

It is understood the enforced rest period could also be used to address that blister problem through a separate tissue cleaning procedure, given the recovery windows for both issues broadly overlap.

Should that timeline hold, McTominay could be back to full training and available again within roughly a month, with Napoli keen to have him ready as soon as possible given how central he has become to Allegri’s plans.

His importance to Napoli was underlined last season when he finished second across the entire division for duels won, adding genuine physical presence to a midfield that previously lacked it during his time at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who managed McTominay for several years at United, said following his exit that he struggled to understand the decision to let him leave, a sentiment that has only grown louder among supporters as his career in Italy has flourished.

For now, the priority in Naples is simply ensuring the procedure goes smoothly and McTominay returns to full fitness in time for Napoli’s pursuit of another successful Serie A campaign.