Scotland’s World Cup preparations have been hit by the information that Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour has formally been dominated out.
The previous Chelsea man will keep at house after scans confirmed the severity of the knee harm he picked up throughout the 4-1 win over Curaçao on Saturday.
The Scottish FA confirmed on Saturday night that the 24-year-old is not going to board the aircraft to the US on Sunday and can as an alternative head again to Italy to start his restoration.
An announcement on the Scottish FA’s official website confirmed: “We remorse to announce that the knee harm sustained by Billy Gilmour in right now’s win over Curaçao will rule him out of participation in FIFA World Cup 2026.
“Everybody concerned with the Scotland Males’s Nationwide Group needs Billy a speedy restoration. He’ll now return to his membership, SSC Napoli, to begin rehabilitation.”
Clarke left ‘devastated’ by timing of blow
The information strips Steve Clarke of one among his most trusted midfield generals simply over two weeks earlier than Scotland open their Group C marketing campaign in opposition to Haiti in Foxborough on June 13.
Talking instantly after the match, Clarke had admitted he had “fingers crossed that the wee man is ok,” however the actuality of the post-match scan left the nationwide staff boss totally heartbroken for the previous Chelsea and Brighton man.
Reacting to the official prognosis, Steve Clarke mentioned: “I’m devastated for Billy as a result of he has been an integral a part of our World Cup qualifying marketing campaign. The timing of this harm is so, so merciless and all of us really feel for him.
“He is aware of what all of us consider him as a footballer and an individual and whereas no phrases will give him any consolation tonight, I’m sure Billy can have many main tournaments forward of him sooner or later.”
Tactical rethink forward of Bolivia
Whereas the squad should now course of the emotional weight of shedding a key determine, Clarke has to shortly pivot to a significant tactical rethink earlier than subsequent Saturday’s last warm-up fixture in opposition to Bolivia in New Jersey.
Gilmour’s substitute on Saturday, Findlay Curtis, made an instantaneous impression by scoring Scotland’s first-half equaliser, whereas Manchester United teenager Tyler Fletcher additionally made an enormous impression off the bench on his worldwide debut.
