Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay has revealed he underwent an emergency heart procedure just 48 hours before his country's opening match against Haiti at the World Cup.
The 29-year-old, who was initially reported to have missed training because of a stomach problem, disclosed the extent of his health scare during a press conference in Glasgow on Tuesday.
"I had to go and get the shock on my heart two days before the Haiti game," McTominay revealed.
Despite the unexpected medical intervention, the Napoli midfielder featured in all three of Scotland's World Cup matches, including their opening 1-0 victory over Haiti in Massachusetts.
However, McTominay struggled to produce his usual performances as Scotland suffered defeats to Morocco and Brazil, resulting in a group-stage exit.
McTominay admitted the experience was particularly difficult given his preparation for the tournament.
"I was 100 per cent (fit), but obviously when 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?" he said.
"You've prepared so well, I was in such good condition and then something like that happens and you're thinking, 'How is this happening to me?'
"It's nowhere near an excuse, but it's something that you have to look back on and say, 'Well, it's part of the process'."
The midfielder returned to club football with Napoli at the beginning of the new Serie A campaign, featuring in their opening two league fixtures before undergoing further treatment in September.
McTominay underwent a cardiac ablation procedure in Manchester to address a mild, benign heart arrhythmia, which had affected his heart's normal rhythm.
The operation kept him sidelined throughout September and ruled him out of Scotland's first four matches under newly appointed manager Sebastien Pocognoli.
McTominay has since returned to international duty and is available for Scotland's upcoming Nations League fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland.
The former Manchester United midfielder reassured supporters that his recovery had progressed well and that the corrective procedure had been successful.
"I'm good. I'm feeling much, much better than what I was," he said. "I feel like it was something that needed to be done.
"Obviously, it looks a lot worse to people in the media and family and friends who reach out to you after they've seen news relating to a heart issue, but it was a relatively straightforward procedure which went really well."
With his health concerns now addressed, McTominay will be hoping to regain his best form for both Napoli and Scotland as he continues his return to competitive football.
