Scotland hope Scott McTominay sickness bug won't spread as Billy Gilmour jets in for World Cup
McLean desperate for teammate to recover and make opener
Kenny McLean has stressed that he and his teammates are keeping everything crossed in the hope Scott McTominay recovers from the stomach complaint that meant the midfielder missed training in Charlotte on Thursday.
The Napoli star is one of certain starters in Steve Clarke’s team ahead of their opening World Cup group game in Boston this weekend against Haiti. Besides concerns over McTominay’s involvement, there is fear that others could have been affected by the same bug.
“Hopefully that doesn’t spread,” said McLean. “I am sure everybody has fingers crossed that Scotty will be fine and I’m sure he will be. Everybody knows what Scotty brings. It is quite apparent how big a player he is for us.
“For all that it has been a team effort, and always will be a real team effort, but we have special, special players at the core.
“He is obviously desperate to play and his preparations have been amazing apart from maybe something he has eaten somewhere along the line.
“But he is up on a mural for a reason. He is a true talent, a special player, an amazing guy and an amazing part of the team. He is a big character around the place but it is a team effort. I’m sure Scotty would be the first to say that.”
McLean also revealed that McTominay’s clubmate Billy Gilmour has flown in to add his support to the group and experience some of the World Cup buzz for himself.
Clarke explained last week that the midfielder, whose World Cup ambitions were ended when he suffered a knee injury in the penultimate warm-up match against Curacao, had been invited out to rejoin the squad, treatment schedule permitting.
Gilmour had returned to Italy to get the injury assessed following the devastating diagnosis. He is expected to be out for up to eight weeks.
However, Napoli medics gave him the green light to travel to the United States and he touched down in Boston on his 25th birthday. He has already been mingling with fans.
“Billy just landed,” reported McLean. “Billy is going to come and see the lads tonight (Thursday), which is amazing. It is his birthday as well so happy birthday Billy. I think he has turned 17, I’m not sure!
“He is going to be here, he obviously wants to experience things around the lads,” McLean added. “Also be around the city with fans, to soak in the atmosphere.
“He obviously deserves so much more for what he has given but there is going to be more opportunity. There is going to be so much more opportunity for Billy.
"I know it’s not what he wants to hear right now but there will be. What an amazing talent, what an amazing young man and it will be good to see him later on."
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