Scott McTominay returns for Napoli four weeks after heart surgery

What happened in Scott McTominay's comeback match?

Scott McTominay returned to action for Napoli on Saturday, coming off the bench in a 3-0 Serie A victory against Frosinone just four weeks after undergoing surgery to correct a heart condition.

The 29-year-old Scotland midfielder was introduced in the 61st minute at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, replacing David Neres to a standing ovation from the home support.

Napoli were already two goals ahead when McTominay came on, thanks to a first-half penalty from Kevin De Bruyne and a straightforward finish from Noa Lang. De Bruyne added his second in late stoppage time, sweeping home a cross from Giovane to seal the victory and move Napoli up to eighth in the table with 10 points from six matches.

What cardiac condition did Scott McTominay have?

McTominay's health scare began on 30 August, when he was substituted 56 minutes into Napoli's 2-1 league defeat against Como. Subsequent medical examinations identified a mild, benign cardiac arrhythmia.

To correct the irregular heart rhythm, McTominay underwent a minimally invasive ablation procedure on 8 September at Spire Hospital in Manchester. The surgery was described as a complete success.

His recovery protocol required two weeks of complete rest before he could begin light gym work and gradually resume physical exertion.

How was McTominay cleared to play for Napoli?

Before returning to full team training, McTominay had to undergo a series of medical tests administered by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), the governing body that oversees sports safety and clearance in Italy.

He received official clearance from CONI on Wednesday and rejoined group training shortly after. Manager Massimiliano Allegri confirmed ahead of the match that the midfielder was fit enough to feature, stating during his pre-match press conference that McTominay would be available for "at least 20-30 minutes."

McTominay's return comes as a welcome boost for Allegri, who has been managing several missing players. While Antonio Vergara and Costantino Favasuli face longer spells on the sidelines, Mathías Olivera, Frank Anguissa, Luca Marianucci and Benoit Badiashile are all progressing toward full fitness as Napoli enter a busy autumn schedule.