Napoli have welcomed Scott McTominay back to Castel Volturno, where the midfielder has resumed work after the procedure that interrupted his opening weeks of the season. His return to the training ground is an important step for Massimiliano Allegri, even if the next stage will be governed by medical clearance and the player’s response to a gradual programme.
The decision
McTominay underwent an ablation procedure at Spire Manchester Hospital after a mild benign cardiac arrhythmia was identified. He had played Napoli’s first two matches of the campaign, against Genoa and Inter, before the choice was made to stop and have the operation.
After two weeks of rest, he completed his first scheduled session on Tuesday. The initial work was carried out in the gym, with contact to be avoided at the beginning of his return. Napoli will then increase his workload progressively before he rejoins full team training and becomes available to Allegri.
A possible involvement against Frosinone will be assessed, but there is no fixed timetable. Much will depend on McTominay’s feelings as he returns to normal training, as well as the medical approval required for competitive football.
His absence has been felt beyond the usual definition of a missing midfielder. McTominay has become a technical reference point for Napoli, a player capable of arriving in scoring positions and imposing himself on matches. The figures underline that influence: Napoli have won 59% of their games with him on the pitch, while their success rate falls by 19% without him.
There has also been a cost in front of goal. Napoli’s early difficulties in converting their play have coincided with the absence of a midfielder who has scored 27 times in two seasons for the club. Last season he surpassed his previous best return of 14 goals, and he is still waiting for his first strike under Allegri.
A place in Allegri’s changing side
McTominay left the team as a conventional central midfielder in Allegri’s original 4-3-3. Napoli have since adjusted, first in response to his absence and then after losing Anguissa, with Billy Gilmour operating alongside Lobo in a double-pivot arrangement.
The current balance does not necessarily define McTominay’s role when he is ready. Allegri has changed the shape of his Napoli according to personnel and opponents, and McTominay’s adaptability gives the coach several solutions rather than one prescribed position.
Under Antonio Conte, he worked both as an interior midfielder and in a central role without losing his impact. In last season’s 3-4-2-1, he also thrived as a deeper midfielder, a position familiar from his Manchester United years.
That role could again be an option on his return. He could also be used behind Hojlund as an attacking midfielder, though with a different profile from Kevin De Bruyne or Vergara: less a creator between the lines than a runner who attacks the penalty area and adds an extra presence around the centre-forward.
For Napoli, the immediate priority is simply to have him back in full health and ready for selection. Once that point is reached, Allegri will regain a player whose value has been measured not only in goals, but in the authority he brings to a side seeking to control difficult afternoons again.
