Steve Clarke is a man who does not often give much away. When he speaks, you listen. So when the Scotland manager admits he is "100% worried" about Bi...
Steve Clarke is a man who does not often give much away. When he speaks, you listen. So when the Scotland manager admits he is "100% worried" about Billy Gilmour after the midfielder limped off against Curacao, you have to sit up and take note.This was supposed to be a routine friendly, a chance to build rhythm and sharpen the attacking edge. A 4. 1 win is tidy enough on paper, but the real damage may have been done off the ball. Gilmour, the heartbeat of this side, the player who dictates tempo and connects defence to attack with that calm, almost arrogant assurance, was forced to depart early. And Clarke's face said it all.Let us be honest here. Scotland's tactical flexibility in midfield is built around that Napoli man. Without him, the transitional play becomes stodgier. The low block becomes harder to break down because you lose the one player who can find a pass through the eye of a needle. Clarke knows this better than anyone. You could see the concern etched into his features as Gilmour came off, that internal calculation of risk versus reward already churning.So what happens now The medical staff will work their magic, but the psychological blow is already landed. A fitness battle looms. For a nation that has learned to dream again under Clarke, losing Gilmour for any length of time would be a brutal setback. The friendly win feels hollow when you realise the price paid. Scotland will hold its breath, and rightly so. This is squeaky bum time, and we haven't even kicked a competitive ball yet.
