Napoli have set their sights on the first week of October for Scott McTominay’s return, with the Scotland midfielder recovering from a successful cardiac procedure and the club preparing for a demanding run of nine matches.
Napoli’s October target for McTominay
The date being marked in Naples is 6 October. That is the most optimistic projection after sporting director Giovanni Manna explained the stages McTominay must complete before he can again be cleared for competitive football.
McTominay underwent an ablation procedure at Spire Manchester Hospital on 8 September. Napoli confirmed that the operation had gone well and initially placed him on roughly two weeks of rest before his return to training.
- Manna said McTominay requires 28 days before sporting eligibility can be granted.
- The midfielder is taking anticoagulant medication, which prevents him from playing during that period.
- He must first rest for two weeks.
- He will then resume football work without contact for a further two or three weeks.
- Napoli accept that his recovery could take longer if he needs more time or if complications arise.
Speaking before the meeting with Inter at San Siro, Manna said the club had opted to bring forward the break in order to give McTominay the best chance of being available in October, when the fixture list becomes particularly crowded.
A condition known before the setback
The diagnosis was described by Napoli as a mild, benign arrhythmia. The matter had already been considered internally before it became evident around the match against Como.
At the Gran Galà del Calcio in Milan on 2 September, McTominay said he was well and stressed that the possibility of the issue had been anticipated with the club. Manna later added that the player had experienced an episode while on international duty in June, before another occurrence in the weeks that followed.
That background explains why Napoli chose a medical route rather than attempting to manage the problem through the autumn schedule. The club’s priority is to have him back safely for the intense sequence of fixtures ahead, rather than asking him to continue through an uncertain situation.
McTominay’s subdued showing against Como had initially been linked by Massimiliano Allegri to blisters on the player’s feet, which had limited his training workload. The subsequent announcement made clear that the greater concern was his heart condition. Napoli released the medical note two days after his last Serie A appearance at the Maradona.
Allegri weighs his midfield options
McTominay’s absence arrives at a time when Allegri is also managing intermittent availability from Frank Anguissa. Napoli have already shown one possible alternative, using Stanislav Lobotka and Billy Gilmour together as a double pivot in the Champions League opener and then against Bologna in Serie A.
The arrangement offered the coach a functioning solution in midfield, but it does not fully replace the attributes McTominay brought to Napoli during the Conte years: presence, quality in both penalty areas and a reliable threat near goal.
- McTominay finished his first Napoli Serie A season with 12 goals.
- He also supplied three assists.
- Those figures placed his contribution close to that expected from an attacking player rather than simply a midfielder.
For Allegri, the task is to keep Napoli steady through the coming weeks while preserving space for McTominay’s eventual reintegration. His return will depend not simply on a date in the diary, but on the medical clearance that follows the full recovery programme.
A message to Naples before Manchester treatment
Before travelling to Manchester for the procedure, McTominay sent a message to Napoli supporters through Instagram, telling them he would see them soon and that he did not expect to be away for long.
The response from supporters has underlined his standing in the city, with messages of encouragement and wishes for a quick recovery continuing to appear beneath his posts. Napoli can only wait now: the calendar points towards October, while the player’s health remains the first consideration.
SEO Title: Scott McTominay Recovery: Napoli Target October Return
SEO Description: Napoli hope Scott McTominay can return in early October after a successful ablation procedure, as Massimiliano Allegri manages a crowded schedule without the Scottish midfielder.
