Scotland’s preparations for the World Cup have suffered a major setback after midfield star Billy Gilmour sustained a 'cruel' injury during their 4-1 friendly win over Curacao. The Napoli midfielder was forced off the pitch, leaving his teammates and coaching staff in shock. Scott McTominay led the tributes to his fellow midfielder, describing him as a vital figure in Scotland’s recent success.

A huge setback for Scotland

The Scottish Football Association confirmed the unfortunate news on Saturday evening, shortly after the team’s victory over Curacao. What was meant to be a celebratory farewell for Steve Clarke’s squad has been overshadowed by the loss of one of their most influential players, just days before the World Cup begins.

Gilmour, who has been a key component in the Scottish midfield alongside McTominay, picked up the injury in the second half of the friendly. After undergoing medical assessments, it was determined that the Napoli playmaker would not recover in time for the group stage, forcing him to withdraw from the tournament altogether.

McTominay and teammates 'deeply devastated'

The mood inside the Scotland dressing room reportedly shifted from joy to sadness as the magnitude of Gilmour’s absence became clear. McTominay, who plays with Gilmour at Napoli, expressed his heartbreak over the situation, having built a strong partnership with him in midfield during Scotland’s resurgence under Clarke.

McTominay wrote on social media: “Absolutely devastated for you, brother. Football can be so cruel and you don’t deserve this. Keep your head high — the players, staff, and the whole country are behind you.”

Steve Clarke reacts to the 'cruel' setback

Head coach Steve Clarke did not hide his disappointment when addressing Gilmour’s injury. He highlighted the midfielder’s crucial role in Scotland’s qualification journey and admitted that the timing of the injury made it even harder to accept.

Clarke said: “I am devastated for Billy because he has been an integral part of our World Cup qualifying campaign. The timing of this injury is unbelievably cruel and everyone in the squad feels for him. He knows the high regard we hold him in, both as a footballer and as a person. While words can offer little comfort tonight, I have no doubt Billy will feature in many major tournaments in the years to come.”

Focus turns to rehabilitation in Italy

Gilmour will not stay with the national team during the tournament and will instead return to Italy to begin his rehabilitation. Napoli will oversee his recovery, aiming to have him fit for the start of the next domestic season. A statement from the Scottish FA read: “Everyone connected with the Scotland Men’s National Team wishes Billy a swift and complete recovery. He will now return to his club, SSC Napoli, to begin his rehabilitation.”

Scotland still have one more friendly fixture before the World Cup. They are set to face Bolivia in New Jersey next Saturday in their final warm-up game. Drawn in Group C, Scotland will face Haiti and Morocco in Boston before heading to Miami to take on Brazil.