Billy Gilmour Embraces New Role Amidst Scotland's Evolving Squad
The midfielder reflects on missing the World Cup and looks ahead to his role as a senior figure in the Scotland team.
Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour is looking forward to new opportunities with the national team after overcoming the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup due to injury. The 25-year-old, who plays for Napoli, suffered a knee injury just before the tournament, an event that initially left him devastated.
"The boys fell on top of me and I've heard something straight away," Gilmour recounted about the moment of injury. "Typical, try to run it off, make sure it was okay. It was tough. You have to take yourself away for a couple of days and I did."
Despite the personal setback, Gilmour chose to support his teammates from the sidelines, traveling to the United States with his family. He described the experience of being a fan with his family around him as a way to "switch off" and "deal with it."
"When you think of it, how lucky you still are to get to go there and watch the games and be with family and family holiday also," he added. He also noted the support he received from the squad, including captain Andy Robertson and then-head coach Steve Clarke, who encouraged him to prioritize time with his family.
Gilmour's return to the pitch has seen him adapt to different midfield roles. In a recent 0-0 draw against Slovenia, he played with a different dynamic, partly due to the absence of club-mate Scott McTominay, who was recovering from a heart procedure. Gilmour expressed his willingness to play wherever needed on the pitch.
"When I was younger, I really liked playing higher up, trying to be among it," Gilmour said. "Whenever I get asked to play on the pitch, as long as I'm on the pitch, I'm happy. I just want to play football and enjoy it."
Now considered a senior figure in the squad with many younger players entering the setup, Gilmour is embracing his role. While coy about the prospect of captaincy, he acknowledged it as a dream and expressed pride in current captain Andy Robertson's achievements for Scotland, noting Robertson's proximity to Kenny Dalglish's record for most caps.
Gilmour is expected to feature in Scotland's upcoming match against Switzerland at Hampden on Tuesday.