‘Put to sleep’ – Scott McTominay had his heart ‘shocked’ two days before World Cup opener

Scott McTominay has revealed he had his heart ‘shocked’ just two days before Scotland’s World Cup opener against Haiti. The Napoli star recently underwent an ablation procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat, which caused him to miss the Tartan Army’s last camp in the extended international break. McTominay has since returned to the pitch, and was included in Sebastien Pocognoli’s squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland. Ahead of this week’s games, the 29-year-old has revealed how his heart condition affected his preparations for the World Cup. In the days leading up Scotland ‘s opening clash with Haiti, concerns were raised over McTominay’s fitness after he missed training. At the time, the Scottish FA put his absence down to an upset stomach, but the midfielder has now shared the truth of the matter. McTominay reveals World Cup drama In a press conference on Tuesday, McTominay said he was put to sleep to correct his heartbeat two days before Scotland’s World Cup opener against Haiti , before being given the all-clear to play. He told reporters: “The World Cup was difficult for me to be honest – when it finished. “I had to go and get the shock on my heart. It was two days before the Haiti game. You’ve prepared so well. I was in such good condition and then something like that happens. You’re thinking, ‘How is this happening to me?’ “But you have to get on with it, that’s the cards that you’re 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 that you have to look back on and say ‘Well it’s part of the process’. “Obviously the way the World Cup went, it was at least two, three weeks of me sitting there disappointed, not quite with it mentally, and needed time to settle down and have a break.” McTominay played all three of Scotland’s matches at the World Cup, where his side suffered a disappointing group stage exit . He played the full 90 minutes against Haiti – the Tartan Army’s only win – despite undergoing a heart procedure two days before, and also completed the following two matches against Morocco and Brazil. And McTominay admitted he struggled in the aftermath of Scotland’s disappointing World Cup exit. Asked if he was fully fit for the tournament given his heart procedure, he replied: “I was 100 per cent [fit]. “But obviously, whenever you’re sat in a hospital bed two days before the first game of the World Cup about to get put to sleep, it’s not ideal, is it? “So whenever things like that happen – it is what it is, there’s nothing you can do about it but after the World Cup, I reflected on it and was extremely disappointed – probably the most disappointed I’ve ever been in my career, to be honest.” Following the World Cup, McTominay returned to action with Napoli at the start of this season, playing their first two Serie A matches. However, the ex- Manchester United man then decided surgery to undergo surgery to correct the heart issue, which caused him to miss all of his club side’s September fixtures. This also ruled him out Scotland’s first four matches under new boss Pocognoli , but he is now set to return for this week’s Nations League double-header. McTominay will be hoping to inspire his national team here, with Pocognoli making an unconvincing start to life in the hotseat. In last month’s extended international break, the Tartan Army managed to win just once, losing twice and drawing one of their four matches, prompting talkSPORT’s Ally McCoist to label the national team’s form a concern .