Billy Gilmour reflects on World Cup injury as he returns to Scotland side

Billy Gilmour says he needed time away to process the knee injury that kept him out of Scotland’s World Cup. In an interview published on Tuesday, the Napoli midfielder described watching the tournament with family and supporters. He has since returned to Scotland’s starting side under new manager Sébastien Pocognoli, giving him a playing role again after a summer on the sidelines.

Gilmour was injured against Curaçao shortly before Scotland travelled to the United States. The Scottish Football Association said on 30 May that he would miss the tournament and return to Napoli to begin rehabilitation. Then-manager Steve Clarke called the timing cruel, saying Gilmour had been an integral part of Scotland’s qualifying campaign.

Watching from the sidelines

Speaking to BBC Scotland, Gilmour recalled hearing something when other players fell on top of him. He tried to run off the injury, but the prospect of missing the tournament soon became clear. He said the first days were tough and that he took a couple of days away to deal with what had happened.

Gilmour said he then tried to remain positive when he was around the squad. Clarke and captain Andy Robertson gave him room to spend time with family and experience games alongside Scotland supporters if staying close to the team felt too difficult, according to Gilmour’s account. He watched matches in the United States and described the trip as time with his family as well as an opportunity to support his teammates.

Clarke’s statement at the time of the injury offered a longer view, saying he expected Gilmour to have further chances at major tournaments. That was an expression of confidence, rather than a medical forecast. The Scottish FA’s announcement said only that Gilmour would begin rehabilitation with Napoli; it gave no timetable for recovery or account of the injury’s severity.

A return under a new manager

Scotland’s World Cup campaign ended with Clarke leaving the head coach’s post. Gilmour told the BBC he was still in Miami when news of the resignation emerged. Pocognoli took charge for Scotland’s Nations League opener away to Slovenia on 26 September, a goalless draw that marked the beginning of a different period for the midfielder and the national team.

The Scottish FA said Gilmour returned to the starting line-up in Slovenia after missing Scotland’s previous match through injury. Pocognoli made five changes from the side that had faced Brazil at the World Cup. Robbie Ure and Stephen Welsh made their Scotland debuts, while Oli McBurnie returned to the team after five years. Scott McTominay was among the injured players absent.

Scotland struggled to create chances early on. Ure struck the outside of the post late in the first half, and the visitors improved after the break. Gilmour exchanged passes with McBurnie in the 59th minute before shooting at goalkeeper Jan Oblak. He also released Ure for a shot and later played in substitute Kieron Bowie, who sent his chance wide. Scotland could not turn that stronger second half into a goal.

The Guardian and STV News, reporting separately on the match, both described Scotland’s improvement after half-time and Gilmour’s contribution to its chances. Pocognoli told The Guardian that the dressing-room mood was positive because of the second half. He said Scotland should have scored, while praising the strikers’ overall performance. The draw left a clear task for his side: converting the openings it had begun to create.

His place in the squad

Gilmour told the BBC he enjoyed playing further forward when he was younger and is happy to take whatever position gets him on the pitch. His role against Slovenia drew attention with club-mate McTominay absent. The BBC reported that McTominay was recovering from a heart procedure; the Scottish FA listed him among the injured players unavailable for the match.

At 25, Gilmour is also considering his standing among younger Scotland players. Asked about the possibility of one day becoming captain, he said he would be proud to do so, but called Robertson his captain and praised his record with Scotland. His comments described an ambition, not a change to the captaincy.

Scotland were scheduled to host Switzerland at Hampden on Tuesday, and the BBC reported that Gilmour was expected to feature. The available reports establish the fixture and that expectation, but do not establish whether he played or what happened in the match. For now, his return against Slovenia is the clearest evidence of his renewed place in the national side.