Gilmour targets Scotland return after World Cup heartbreak — SkimNews
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- Billy Gilmour suffered a knee injury in Scotland's farewell World Cup warm-up against Curacao at Hampden, forcing him out of the nation's first men's World Cup since before he was born.
- Rather than head home, Gilmour stayed in the US with family, watched games as a fan in Boston and Miami, and threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Miami Marlins vs Texas Rangers game, admitting he was "nervous" it wouldn't be a bad throw.
- Steve Clarke, who handed Gilmour his Scotland debut in 2021, resigned as head coach — news that broke while the midfielder was still in Miami.
- Under new manager Sebastien Pocognoli, Gilmour played a more advanced role in Saturday's 0-0 draw in Slovenia, stepping higher up the pitch in the absence of club-mate Scott McTominay, who is recovering from a heart procedure.
- Gilmour is set to feature at Hampden on Tuesday against Switzerland, live on the BBC.
- Now 25 and one of the squad's senior figures, Gilmour deflects talk of succeeding captain Andy Robertson, who is closing on Kenny Dalglish's Scotland caps record.
Why it matters: Clarke is gone, Robertson is closing on Dalglish's caps record, and Pocognoli has just discovered he can deploy his most technically polished midfielder higher up the pitch. Gilmour's tactical flexibility — filling in for McTominay without missing a beat in Slovenia — gives the new Scotland boss a variety Clarke rarely used, just in time for Tuesday's Hampden friendly against Switzerland.
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