Scott McTominay Reveals Hidden Heart Treatment Before World Cup
Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay has revealed he underwent emergency hospital treatment for an irregular heartbeat just two days before Scotland began their World Cup campaign against Haiti in June. The national team was preparing for their tournament opener in the United States when the medical issue arose, forcing the player to be placed under sedation to have his heart shocked.
Medical Intervention in the United States
As the Scotland squad finalised their preparations for their World Cup bow in the United States, a serious medical situation unfolded behind closed doors. Just 48 hours prior to Scotland securing a victory over Haiti in their opening fixture, McTominay required urgent medical intervention.
The midfielder was admitted to a hospital to address an irregular heartbeat. To rectify the issue before the tournament began, medical staff placed him under sedation. Reflecting on the sudden hospital visit and the required procedure, McTominay explained,
"I had to get the shock on my heart"
The Training Absence Cover Story
At the time of the incident in June, the true nature of the midfielder's hospital visit was not made public. When McTominay was forced to miss crucial training sessions immediately preceding the World Cup fixture against Haiti, the official explanation provided was that he was suffering from a minor illness.
His absence from the training pitch was initially attributed to a stomach complaint. This explanation successfully kept the serious nature of his Scott McTominay heart treatment private while the national team focused on their successful start to the tournament.
Subsequent Surgery and Nations League Absence
While the initial shock treatment allowed him to navigate the immediate period surrounding the World Cup, the underlying condition required a more permanent medical solution. In August, it emerged that the Napoli midfielder would need to undergo formal surgery to properly remedy the irregular heartbeat.
The scheduled operation took place the following month. Because of the required recovery time following the surgical procedure, McTominay was unavailable for international duty and was forced to miss Scotland's opening matches of the Nations League.