'Taken away': Billy Gilmour addresses World Cup-ending Scotland injury with 99-word Instagram post
Midfielder ‘struggling to get head around’ knee injury
Luckless Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour says he has been denied a “childhood dream” after being ruled out of the World Cup by injury.
Gilmour hurt his knee in last weekend’s 4-1 friendly win over Curacao at Hampden and following a scan, it was confirmed that the 24-year-old would not be able to play any part in the tournament later this month.
Capped 46 times by Scotland, Napoli playmaker Gilmour was set to be a prominent member of head coach Steve Clarke’s team for the Group C matches against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil. However, the former Rangers, Chelsea and Brighton player will now have to watch the finals from home as the national team bids to reach the knock-out phase for the first time.
Posting on Instagram, Gilmour wrote: “I haven’t got the words to describe how I’m feeling right now. Being so close to a childhood dream of mine, to play in a World Cup, and now it has been taken away from me with an injury.
“It’s been a tough one to get my head around.
“Your support and kind messages over the last few days mean the world to me and haven’t gone unnoticed, so thank you so much. I’ll see you all back doing what I love again soon but until then, let’s get behind the team and cheer them on.
“Come on Scotland!”
Gilmour’s place in the Scotland squad has been taken by Manchester United teenager Tyler Fletcher. The 19-year-old midfielder was picked ahead of Lennon Miller, Connor Barron and Andy Irving despite only winning his first cap against Curacao.
Fletcher is part of the 26-man squad that flew to Florida on Sunday afternoon to begin preparations for the World Cup with a pre-tournament training camp.
The Scots will acclimatise in Fort Lauderdale before flying to New Jersey ahead of their final friendly against Bolivia on Saturday evening.
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