Scott McTominay has undergone a successful cardiac ablation procedure in Manchester and is expected to rest for two weeks before returning to Napoli training.
McTominay undergoes successful cardiac procedure in Manchester
Scott McTominay has undergone a successful cardiac ablation procedure in Manchester, with Napoli confirming that the operation was completed without complications and that the midfielder will now begin a period of rest before gradually returning to training. The 29-year-old, who joined the Italian club from Manchester United in August 2024 and went on to become one of the most influential players in Serie A, had been placed on rest following the second round of the season after an arrhythmia was detected.
Napoli issued an official statement confirming that the procedure took place at Spire Hospital in Manchester and described the outcome as a complete success. According to the club, the intervention was designed to neutralise the small area of heart tissue responsible for the irregular rhythm, using either heat or cold as part of the ablation process.
“Scott McTominay underwent a cardiac ablation procedure at Spire Hospital in Manchester. The operation was a complete success,” Napoli said.
The club also explained that the procedure targets only a very small area of tissue associated with the arrhythmia. The intention is to correct the electrical pathway responsible for the abnormal rhythm and allow the player to return safely to normal physical activity once his recovery has been completed.
Two weeks of rest before training return
Napoli have said McTominay will now rest for two weeks before resuming training, although the club has not provided a firm date for his return to competitive action. The midfielder had already been withdrawn from normal football activity following the second round of Serie A, and his condition has therefore been managed cautiously while the medical process was completed.
“McTominay will rest for two weeks before returning to training,” the club added in its statement.
The announcement offers greater clarity regarding the immediate recovery timeline but stops short of confirming when he could be available for selection again. Returning to training does not necessarily mean an immediate return to matches, and Napoli are expected to assess his response to the recovery process before deciding when he is ready to resume competitive football.
A week earlier, the club had indicated that McTominay could return “after the international break”, with the beginning of October identified as the approximate target period. The latest update remains broadly consistent with that expectation, although his exact return will depend on how he progresses over the coming weeks.
For Napoli, the priority will be ensuring that the midfielder is fully ready before he is reintegrated into the squad. Given the physical demands of Serie A and European football, the club is unlikely to rush his return, particularly after a procedure involving a cardiac arrhythmia.
Major absence for Napoli midfield
McTominay absence is a significant one for Napoli because of the role he has developed since arriving from Manchester United. He moved to Italy in August 2024 and quickly became one of the most important players in the team, adapting impressively to Serie A and adding goals, physical presence and attacking influence from midfield.
His first season in Italy was particularly successful on an individual level. McTominay was named the best player in Serie A for the 2024/25 campaign, recognition that reflected the impact he made after leaving English football and establishing himself in a new league.
Since completing the transfer from Manchester United, he has scored 27 goals in 82 appearances across all competitions. That return underlines the attacking contribution he has added to Napoli, particularly given that much of his career has been spent operating from midfield rather than as a conventional forward.
His ability to arrive in the penalty area, compete physically and contribute goals has made him an important part of the Napoli structure. Losing him during the opening weeks of the season therefore presents Massimiliano Allegri with an early tactical problem as he attempts to establish his team after taking charge.
Napoli enduring difficult start
The medical update arrives during a difficult opening period for Napoli. The Serie A runners-up currently sit 12th in the table with three points from their opening three matches, a disappointing return for a club expected to compete near the top of the division.
Allegri, who is now in charge of the team, is still attempting to shape the squad and find greater consistency in the early weeks of the campaign. McTominay absence removes one of the most productive midfield players from his options at a time when Napoli are already searching for momentum.
The club will therefore hope that the two-week rest period proceeds without complications and that the Scotland international can begin rebuilding his fitness shortly afterwards. Even so, Napoli are expected to take a cautious approach, particularly because the player has already spent time away from normal training.
His eventual return could provide a significant boost. McTominay has become an important source of goals from midfield and one of the most reliable attacking contributors in the squad, making his availability particularly valuable during a period when Napoli need to improve both performances and results.
From Manchester United to Serie A standout
McTominay move to Napoli in 2024 represented one of the most important changes of his career. After spending his entire senior club career at Manchester United, the midfielder chose to move abroad and immediately established himself as a major figure in Italy.
The transition proved highly successful. Rather than needing an extended adaptation period, McTominay quickly became central to Napoli performances, with his physicality and timing of forward runs translating effectively into Serie A.
His goalscoring record since the transfer has been one of the standout features of his time in Italy. Twenty-seven goals in 82 matches across all competitions represents an excellent return for a midfielder and has helped transform the perception of his attacking role.
The recognition he received as the best player in Serie A in 2024/25 further demonstrated how quickly he became one of the most influential footballers in the competition. That individual success also raised expectations around his role in the following campaign, making the current interruption especially frustrating for both player and club.
Focus now moves to recovery
For the moment, however, footballing considerations are secondary to McTominay recovery. Napoli have made it clear that the procedure was successful, and the next stage will be a period of rest followed by a gradual return to training.
The fact that the club has already outlined a two-week recovery period provides some reassurance regarding the immediate outlook. At the same time, the absence of a confirmed return date for competitive matches reflects the need for continued monitoring before he is cleared for full intensity.
Napoli had previously targeted the period after the international break as a possible return window, and that remains the broad expectation. Whether McTominay is able to return immediately at the beginning of October will depend on how he responds once training resumes.
The midfielder will also need to rebuild match fitness after his enforced absence. Even if he is medically cleared, Allegri and the Napoli staff will have to determine when he is physically ready to return to the demands of Serie A competition.
Napoli hoping for timely boost
From a sporting perspective, Napoli will be eager to have McTominay back as soon as it is safe to do so. Their opening three matches have produced only three points, leaving them in the lower half of the table and already with ground to recover.
Although it is still very early in the season, a poor start can quickly create pressure around a club with ambitions of competing for major honours. Allegri will therefore want his strongest players available once the schedule begins to intensify.
McTominay return could provide exactly the type of boost Napoli need. His ability to score from midfield, add physical intensity and make late runs into the penalty area gives the team a different dimension, and his importance has only increased since his arrival from Manchester United.
For now, the main positive is that the procedure was successful and that the club has been able to provide a clear initial recovery plan. McTominay will spend the next two weeks resting before attempting to return to training, after which a more precise timeline for his competitive comeback should become clearer.
Napoli will hope that process continues smoothly and that one of their most influential players can soon rejoin the squad. After a difficult start to the season, the return of the 2024/25 Serie A Player of the Year would be a major reinforcement for Allegri as the club looks to climb the table and rediscover its best form.
