Scotland star ends 364-day wait as key former Man Utd man given public dressing down by manager

Gilmour, 25, missed out on playing for Scotland at the World Cup this summer after suffering a knee injury in the warm-up game against Curacao at Hampden Park in May, but was included in new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli's first squad last week after making a full recovery.

Set to face Slovenia, Switzerland and North Macedonia in the Nations League with Scotland over the next few weeks, Gilmour was named in Massimiliano Allegri’s starting XI for the third consecutive game, and got the visitors off to a flying start at the Artemio Franchi Stadium when he volleyed home Matteo Politano’s corner in the 23rd minute.

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The goal marked his first in Napoli colours since he opened the scoring in a 3-2 win over Pisa last season, almost exactly a year ago, on September 22, 2025. Still without talismanic Scotland international Scott McTominay, who underwent successful corrective surgery for a minor heart issue earlier this month, Napoli couldn't add to their opener and paid the price early in the second half.

Seeking only their third win of the season, Napoli were pegged back in the 51st minute when AFC Bournemouth loanee Alex Jimenez’s shot took a wicked deflection off Rafa Marin and flew beyond the helpless Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in the visitors' goal. Shortly afterwards, a visibly frustrated Allegri hauled off ex-Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund and midfielder Noah Lang as he looked to turn the tide in his side’s favour.

However, despite big chances falling to substitutes David Neres and Costantino Favasuli, the Partenopei could not find a way past experienced former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, who pulled off numerous excellent saves to ensure the hosts took a share of the spoils in Florence.

For Gilmour and Napoli, the results leave them in an unusually low ninth place after a run of just league wins in their first five league games. Signed on the same day as McTominay in September 2024 by former head coach Antonio Conte, the Scottish duo won the Serie A title in their debut season.

However, after failing to defend the title and finishing 11 points behind Inter Milan last season, the 57-year-old departed the club and was replaced by six-time scudetto winner Allegri. The new head coach eased some pressure on his job with a narrow 1-0 win over Bologna last week, but is under the microscope again after the draw with Fiorentina. After the match, the 59-year-old head coach was left frustrated, publicly dressing down key striker Hojlund after his lukewarm performance.

“He got a bit pig-headed at points,” said Allegri. “We need to work on our limitations, because if we only assume we’re better than the opponents. He put in the effort,. Then there were some situations where he struggled, and he became too stubborn with certain decisions, but he needs to remain calm and relaxed. He has already scored and can only improve.

“We might be growing, but if we don’t leave the field angry today, then it means we’ve still got a very long way to go. Having lots of possession isn’t enough and we ought to be creating and converting more scoring opportunities.”