Billy Gilmour to miss Croatia game after testing positive for COVID-19

21 June 2021 13:02

The Scotland national team has confirmed that young midfielder Billy Gilmour has tested positive for COVID-19 and will now undergo a ten-day isolation period, meaning he will miss the crucial Euro 2020 clash with Croatia on Tuesday.

The Chelsea starlet picked up the man of the match award against England, in what was his first start for his country, and it felt like the beginning of a glittering career on the international stage for Gilmour.

Unfortunately, just a few days later, his momentum has ground to a halt as Scotland took to their official website to confirm that Gilmour had tested positive for COVID-19 and will therefore miss their final group game against the Croatians.

Gilmour is likely to be isolating until the end of June, meaning he could miss Scotland's round of 16 tie if Steve Clarke's side make it through to the knockout stages, while the quarter-finals on 2 and 3 July may also come a little too soon.

The news comes as an enormous blow to Scotland, who are facing an uphill battle to seal a spot in the next round of this summer's tournament anyway.

Gilmour ran the show against England | Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Clarke's men currently sit bottom of Group D and will need to beat Croatia to be in with a shot at qualifying for the round of 16, and Gilmour was seen as integral to their chances of victory after running the show against England.

The 20-year-old was objectively excellent at Wembley, but his progress has already been derailed and Gilmour is back on the sidelines.

In his place, Clarke has the likes of Stuart Armstrong and John Fleck to name alongside John McGinn and Callum McGregor, both of whom impressed against England as well.

Manchester United's Scott McTominay is also an option, but the 24-year-old did well as a centre-back against England and may keep that role against Croatia.


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Source: 90min