Scott McTominay has revealed he had his heart 'shocked' just 48 hours before the World Cup opener against Haiti. The Napoli midfielder announced in September that he would undergo a minor heart procedure after discovering a mild benign arrhythmia.
The issue ruled him out of new Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli's first four Nations League games against Slovenia home and away, North Macedonia and Switzerland. The 29-year-old is now set to return to Scotland for the first time since the tournament Stateside for the final two group games at home to North Macedonia and away in Switzerland.
Procedure before Haiti clash
Speaking ahead of the double header, McTominay explained that he had to receive a shock to his heart before the opener with Haiti: "The World Cup, it was difficult for me to be honest. It finishes and obviously I had to go and get the shock on my heart, and then two days before the Haiti game - you have prepared so well, I was in such good condition and then something like that happens and you are thinking 'how has this happened?'"
"But, you have to get on with it. That is the thing in football, sometimes things don't go your way. You have to do your best. It's nowhere near an excuse but it's something you have to look back on and say 'it's part of the process'. Obviously the way the World Cup went it was at least two or three weeks of me sitting there disappointed, not quite with it mentally and I needed time to settle down."
Dealing with disappointment
He conceded: "Whenever you're sat on a hospital bed, two days before the first game at a World Cup and about to get put to sleep - it's not ideal. Whenever things like that happen, you have to deal with it. After the World Cup I reflected on it and I was disappointed, probably the most disappointed I have ever been in my career to be honest."
He admits the disappointment of failing to help Scotland make their mark on a global stage stuck with him - but declared he is ready to relaunch his international career. The former Man Utd playmaker said: "After the World Cup my summer holidays, they were not heavily centred around thinking about the World Cup - but it plays a part, you know. You are just sitting there thinking 'we could have done more, man', but that three week break that I had with my operation helped."
"I don't really look back. I am always one for glass half full. But after the World Cup it was a tough one to take. It's not really my style to dwell on things, but that one took a good couple of weeks to get out my system. But you have to refresh."
