News Focus
- Billy Gilmour suffered a knee injury while playing for Scotland against Curaçao
- The Napoli midfielder left the pitch before half-time in the 4-1 friendly victory
- Scotland boss Steve Clarke admits the player could miss the World Cup
- Gilmour will undergo a medical scan to determine the extent of the damage
- The 24-year-old has already missed large parts of the season with fitness issues
Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour has suffered a fresh injury blow while on international duty with Scotland. The 24-year-old hurt his knee during a friendly clash against Curaçao on Friday.
Gilmour stopped playing just before half-time in the match. Scotland won the game 4-1. He walked off the pitch after speaking with the medical staff. At first, the problem did not look serious. The player was not limping as he left the field.
However, Scotland manager Steve Clarke is now very worried. He fears Gilmour might miss the 2026 World Cup. The tournament starts next month in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Clarke spoke to reporters after the match. He said Gilmour went for a medical scan on Friday evening. The manager explained that the player felt pain during a tackle. Gilmour decided he could not continue playing.
“We must wait for the doctors to tell us the results,” Clarke said. “There is no point thinking the worst now. I am hoping and praying he can travel with us to the World Cup.”
This is another major setback for the Scottish international. He has already had many fitness problems this season. The former Brighton and Hove Albion player has made only 20 appearances for Napoli. He scored one goal during the campaign.
Earlier this season, Gilmour was out of action for three months. He had an operation on his groin in November. He returned to the pitch in February.
The midfielder joined Napoli in 2024. He helped the Italian club win the Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana. He will turn 25 next month. He had hoped to celebrate by playing in his first World Cup finals.