Scotland international Scott McTominay requires surgery for a heart condition, sidelining him for Napoli's early season, while compatriot James Scott has moved to Hong Kong to reboot his career. These are two separate developments involving key figures for the national team, which is preparing for a key away fixture against Slovenia later this month.
Napoli confirmed on Tuesday that midfielder Scott McTominay will have a procedure called pulsed field ablation to treat a minor, benign arrhythmia. According to the club's statement, the 29-year-old will be unavailable until after the first international break in October. McTominay, who was Serie A's Most Valuable Player in Napoli's 2025 title-winning campaign, was substituted during the second half of their 2-1 loss to Como last Sunday.
The minimally invasive surgery addresses an irregular heartbeat. McTominay played for Scotland at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and has earned 73 caps, scoring 15 goals since his debut. His absence is a blow for both club and country as Steve Clarke's side looks to improve on a recent run of three consecutive defeats.
Striker James Scott has signed for Hong Kong Premier League side Supreme Sha Tin, aiming to revitalize his career after a difficult period. The 25-year-old former Scotland under-21 international described his last year, spent in the Scottish Highlands, as the hardest of his life. Scott told reporters he wants to "make a name for myself again" with his new club.
Supreme Sha Tin drew a crowd of 4,592 for a recent match, the fifth-largest in the league's 12-year history. Scott scored on his debut in a 3-1 win over Eastern, playing in front of another 3,329 fans. He acknowledged the challenge of adapting to Hong Kong's intense heat, joking after his debut that he was "too tired to think." Scott had previously been with Celtic's youth setup.
The news about McTominay comes as Scotland prepares for its next competitive match, an away UEFA Nations League fixture against Slovenia on September 26. The team's form has been mixed, with two wins and three losses in its last five outings. Those losses include a 3-0 defeat to Brazil on June 24, which started a run of three straight defeats.
Manager Steve Clarke will need to assess his midfield options without McTominay for the upcoming international window. The team's schedule and recent results are available on our fixtures and stats pages. Scotland's last victory was a 2-0 win over Norway in early June, part of the WWLLL sequence that defines their recent form.
All attention now turns to the trip to Ljubljana to face Slovenia. That match represents a chance to halt the three-game losing streak and build momentum in the Nations League. The squad will convene later this month, with Clarke likely to finalize his selection in the coming weeks.
Scott's move to Hong Kong offers him regular playing time, which could eventually bring him back into the national team picture. For now, the immediate focus is on managing McTominay's recovery and preparing the available players for the challenge in Slovenia on September 26.
