Concerns are mounting over the severity of Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour’s World Cup-ending injury, with reports suggesting it is worse than initially feared. Simultaneously, anger is growing among Scotland fans regarding the perceived snub of Udinese’s Lennon Miller for a place in the squad.
The Scottish national team’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup, set to be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, were significantly disrupted when Gilmour was forced off the field during a recent 4-1 friendly victory against Curacao due to an injury. Later that evening, scans confirmed that the knee injury was serious enough to rule him out of the upcoming tournament.
Gilmour Undergoing Further Tests for Knee Injury
Napoli released a statement confirming Gilmour suffered a Grade II sprain of his right knee and would be returning to Naples for additional testing with the club’s medical team. However, the newspaper Il Mattino suggests that Napoli is concerned about potential collateral ligament damage, which can only be properly assessed once the swelling from the sprain subsides. If this is confirmed, Gilmour could be sidelined for an estimated two to three months.
In related news, Scotland fans have taken to online platforms to voice their dissatisfaction. They are questioning the decision to replace Gilmour in the World Cup squad with 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher, who only recently made his senior debut in the aforementioned friendly. Many fans believe that Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller, also 19, should have been given the final squad spot. Miller has had a more substantial season, making 26 competitive appearances for Udinese in Serie A and the Coppa Italia, contributing one goal and two assists, and starting 10 of those matches. In contrast, Fletcher has had limited game time, with just two substitute appearances for Manchester United in the Premier League this season, totaling only 17 minutes on the pitch.