Scotland take on Croatia in a do-or-die group stage game on Tuesday but midfielder Billy Gilmour will miss this all-important match after testing positive for the coronavirus.
The Chelsea midfielder was the star of the show for Steve Clarke’s side against England last Friday but the Scottish FA have confirmed that the youngster has tested positive and will now start his 10-day isolation process.
The official statement read: “The Scottish FA can confirm that a member of the Scotland National Team playing squad, Billy Gilmour, has tested positive for COVID-19.
“Having liaised with Public Health England since the positive test was recorded, Billy will now self-isolate for 10 days and therefore miss tomorrow’s UEFA EURO 2020 Group D match against Croatia at Hampden.”
Manager Steve Clarke further added that none of the other squad members have tested positive so far and he is hoping everyone else is available for selection on Tuesday.
He told the press: “We have just arrived in Glasgow – but I don’t expect anyone to say they don’t want to play. All of them are afraid but nonetheless, we have to play, concentrate on the game and forget everything else.
“That’s how the situation is for this entire Euros. All of us have been negative until now, we are taking all the precautions and implement all the measures. But we just have to see what happens.
“Every third day we go through the tests, there is psychological pressure and uncertainty. So we are afraid something would happen, they test positive and we all end up isolating and having those serious issues.
“I hope nobody else (in the Scotland squad) is positive, I don’t want this to expand. Hopefully it’s just a single case.
“I wish Gilmour a good recovery and I wish that nobody else ends up positive with Covid because that would make things difficult.”
Who will replace Billy Gilmour in the Scotland midfield?
Billy Gilmour would have been a guaranteed starter in central midfield after his superb display against England but now that he is absent, Southampton man Stuart Armstrong should come into the starting line-up.
The 29-year-old featured in midfield during Scotland’s first group game against the Czech Republic but he did not have the best of outing which is why Billy Gilmour was brought into the side.
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Armstrong, a former Celtic man, will have to perform out of his skin if Scotland need to keep players like Modric and Mateo Kovacic at bay on Tuesday night.
Scotland is sure to miss the services of Billy Gilmour and even personally, this was the perfect chance for the Chelsea midfielder to stamp his authority and demand a regular playing spot for both club and country.
But now that he is tested positive, he will just be desperately hoping that Scotland can progress to the last-16 so he can play for the Tartan Army once again in the Euros.
