Scott McTominay received treatment to correct an irregular heartbeat a mere two days before Scotland’s World Cup win over Haiti in June. The Napoli midfielder recently laid out the startling details, revealing a medical procedure he underwent just before hitting the pitch for his country’s biggest tournament. Talk about playing through it.
“Getting The Shock On My Heart” Before Kickoff
Can you even imagine preparing for the biggest stage in football, being in peak condition, and then having something like this drop on you? McTominay, now 29, opened up about the incredible scare, stating he had to “go and get the shock on my heart” just two days before that crucial Haiti game. He was literally put to sleep to correct his heartbeat in Massachusetts. It’s wild to think about, especially with everything on the line.
“You’ve prepared so well. I was in such good condition and then something like that happens,” McTominay said, summing up the shock. He was, naturally, thinking, “‘how is this happening to me?’” But you know players like him, they just “have to get on with it, that’s the cards that you’re dealt in football. Sometimes, things don’t go your way.” He was given the all-clear and went on to play a part in Scotland’s opening 1-0 victory over Haiti. He even played the full 90 minutes in the subsequent losses to Morocco and Brazil, showing an incredible level of dedication and toughness after such an event. Sitting in a hospital bed two days before the World Cup, about to get put to sleep, “it’s not ideal, is it?” No kidding, man.
Back Stronger: Napoli Return and National Call-Up
McTominay’s journey didn’t end with the World Cup. The former Manchester United player recently underwent an ablation procedure, a minimally invasive operation to correct irregular heart rhythms, in Manchester. He gave massive props to his club, Napoli, and the medical staff for their support and treatment in the autumn.
This recovery meant he missed Scotland’s initial four Nations League fixtures, which saw the team go through one win, one draw, and two defeats. But McTominay is back, baby! He’s been recalled to the squad after making his return to domestic and Champions League action with Napoli. “Yeah, I’m good,” he confirmed. “I’m feeling much, much better than what I was. I feel like it was something that needed to be done.” He knows these things happen, adding, “In your career, you have moments like that where things can take you a bit by surprise.” While a “heart issue” sounds terrifying, McTominay says it was a “relatively straightforward procedure, which went really, really well.” He’s “just really happy to be back and playing football again. That’s the most important thing in my life and it always will be.” For him, it’s all about pushing forward: “For me, it’s always about coming back stronger.”
Sebastien Pocognoli’s Scotland side has North Macedonia coming to visit on Friday, followed by a trip to Switzerland on Monday. With McTominay back in the mix and feeling better than ever, Scotland will be looking to him to be a major factor. You know he’s going to be ready to leave it all on the field, focused on that next game and “recovering well and eating the right things, sleeping correctly throughout your career.” What a comeback.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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