Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay has revealed he had his heart “shocked” just two days before Scotland’s opening match at the World Cup in June, in treatment to correct an irregular heartbeat.

The 29-year-old Napoli midfielder, speaking at Hampden on Tuesday, said doctors put him to sleep to steady his heart before clearing him to play in the 1-0 win over Haiti. “I had to go and get the shock on my heart two days before the Haiti game,” he said. “I was 100% [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?”

Arrhythmia first appeared in June

McTominay said the problem was a mild, benign arrhythmia that first came to light after Scotland arrived in the United States in early June. It continued to affect him in August back in Italy with Napoli. At the time, the Scotland camp said he had missed training before the tournament because of a stomach complaint.

He played all three of Scotland’s matches at the World Cup, but Scotland went out at the group stage. McTominay described the tournament as the most disappointing time in his career.

Ablation followed in September

He underwent a cardiac ablation procedure in Manchester in September, to correct irregular heart rhythms. He said the procedure went really well. The treatment kept him out of Scotland’s first four Nations League matches under new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli.

McTominay is now back in the Scotland squad for the final two Nations League matches, at home to North Macedonia on Friday 13 November and away to Switzerland three days later. He has played all nine of Napoli’s games since the last break. Sky Sports and Reuters both reported his account.