Scotland squad faces midfield reshuffle as Gilmour exits World Cup camp
Head coach Steve Clarke assesses potential replacements including Manchester United’s Tyler Fletcher as the team prepares for departure to the United States.
The Scottish Football Association has confirmed that Billy Gilmour will not participate in the upcoming World Cup finals after sustaining a knee injury during a 4-1 friendly victory over Curacao. The Scottish FA issued a statement supporting the 24-year-old Napoli midfielder, who was withdrawn from the match at Hampden Park after pulling up in pain during a tackle.
Head coach Steve Clarke described his concern regarding the incident, noting that Gilmour made the decision to leave the field himself because he recognised the severity of the issue. Clarke stated he was “100% worried” about the injury, emphasising that avoiding such setbacks was a primary request from the management team. Gilmour had started the match but was replaced by Findlay Curtis, who subsequently scored Scotland’s first-half equaliser.
The squad is scheduled to depart for the United States on Sunday to face Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil in the tournament. With Gilmour ruled out, Clarke is evaluating options to fill the void in midfield. Manchester United’s Tyler Fletcher, who made his senior international debut as a half-time substitute in the same friendly, is being considered as a potential replacement.
Clarke confirmed that Fletcher, 19, is one of four young players who have trained with the senior squad this week. While Fletcher is not currently part of the official matchday squad for the World Cup fixtures, the head coach noted that the Manchester United player has trained well and is positioned closer to selection than other standbys. Clarke indicated that a detailed discussion with his coaching staff would determine the final approach to the squad adjustment.
Other players on standby include Rangers’ Conor Barron, Sparta Prague’s Andy Irving, and Udinese’s Lennon Miller. The selection of Fletcher has drawn attention due to his lineage as the son of former Scotland captain Darren Fletcher, with current squad members like Kenny McLean praising the young midfielder’s potential and technical ability in a holding role.
