Scott McTominay on target again in Champions League as Scotland duty beckons for ex-Man Utd man

Scott McTominay was on target again in the Champions League on Wednesday night in his penultimate match for Napoli before joining up with the Scotland squad.

The 29-year-old netted his fifth goal in seven starts since returning from a minor operation to correct an irregular heart rhythm but ended up on the losing side as Napoli crashed to a 4-1 defeat in Porto.

McTominay struck in the 43rd minute to level the match at 1-1, pouncing on a rebound to fire home a first-time volley from eight yards after former Manchester United teammate Rasmus Hojlund saw an effort saved.

Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay celebrates scoring for Napoli against Porto at Dragao Stadium in the Champions League. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

The goal cancelled out Jan Bednarek's opener for Porto but the hosts went back in front through Gabri Veiga in the 71st minute before Jakob Kiwior made it 3-1 with 10 minutes remaining.

Napoli were then reduced to 10 men in the 88th minute when Rafa Marín was shown a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity, with Samu Aghehowa converting the resultant penalty.

Billy Gilmour completed the full 90 minutes for Napoli - the first time the Scotland midfielder has started and finished a match for the Italian club since September.

McTominay, meanwhile, has now scored three goals in his last two Champions League appearances after netting a brace in a 4-3 win over Bodo/Glimt at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona last month. He followed that with another double in a 3-3 draw with Roma in Serie A.

Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli will hope the talismanic midfielder can bring his goalscoring form to the international scene ahead of the upcoming Nations League matches against North Macedonia and Switzerland.

McTominay missed the Belgian's maiden camp last month due to the minimally invasive medical procedure which also saw him sit out four Napoli matches.

His goal against Porto takes McTominay's overall Champions League tally to eight, making him Scotland's leading scorer in the competition since it rebranded from the European Cup in 1993, three ahead of Kenny Miller and Ian Durrant on five.

Napoli host Lazio on Sunday in their final Serie A match before the international break, with McTominay and Gilmour due to meet with up the Scotland squad the following day.