Billy Gilmour: Scotland midfielder ruled out of World Cup with knee injury

Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour has been ruled out of the World Cup after picking up a knee injury during Saturday’s 4-1 friendly win over Curacao.

The Scottish FA confirmed the 24-year-old Napoli player would not take part in the finals, saying: “We’re all with you, Billy.”

And Napoli and Scotland team-mate Scott McTominay wrote on Instagram: “Absolutely devasted for you brother, football is a cruel game and you don’t deserve this, keep your head up. The players, staff and country love you.”

Gilmour, who was planning to attend a family wedding later on Saturday, started at Hampden but was withdrawn after pulling up in pain. His replacement, Findlay Curtis, scored Scotland’s first-half leveller before Lawrence Shankland’s double after the break and a late Ryan Christie penalty.

Head coach Steve Clarke said post-match he was “100% worried” about Gilmour.

“One request was obviously no injuries,” Clarke said. “He hurt himself in the tackle and then he made the decision he had to come off, so that tells you that he himself knew it wasn’t right.”

The Scotland squad are scheduled to fly to the United States on Sunday.