STEVE CLARKE admitted he was “devastated” for Billy Gilmour after the Napoli star was forced to withdraw from the Scotland World Cup squad.
The midfielder limped off with a knee injury during the first-half of the team’s 4-1 friendly win over Curacao at Hampden yesterday.
Gilmour headed immediately for a scan which later confirmed the player’s worst fears to force him out of the soccer extravaganza in USA, Canada and Mexico which kicks off a week on Thursday.
The 24-year-old former Chelsea and Brighton middle-of-the-park performer’s place in the player pool has been taken by Manchester United teenager Tyler Fletcher, son of former Scots international skipper Darren.
Clarke, speaking to The Scotsman, said: “I am devastated for Billy because he has been an integral part of our World Cup qualifying campaign.
ON THE BAWL…Steve Clarke raors on his Scotland players.
“The timing of this injury is so, so cruel and we all feel for him.
“He knows what we all think of him as a footballer and a person and while no words will give him any comfort, I am certain Billy will have many major tournaments ahead of him in the future.”
Replacement Fletcher made his debut in the second-half of the win over Dick Advocaat’s team.
Udinese’s Lennon Miller was among those considered to be brought in, but Clarke settled on the 19-year-old prospect who has yet to make a first-team appearance for the Old Trafford side.
Scotland will now play Bolivia in their final warm-up game in Boston on Saturday evening before taking on Haiti in their opening World Cup-tie in the early hours of Sunday June 14 at the same venue.
Next up are Morocco, again in Boston, five days later before the final group encounter against Brazil in Miami on June 24.
4-GOAL SEND-OFF FOR WORLD CUP SCOTS
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