WHY DELAY WITH BILLY THE KID?
The suspension of football looks certain to buy Scotland manager Steve Clarke a bit of time.
Time to get his thinking around Billy Gilmour sorted out.
We will have to wait until Tuesday before a video conference, chaired by UEFA and involving all 55 of its member countries, is held to determine the future of this season’s European club competitions and the summer Euro Championships.
It seems certain all will be scrapped, and the governing body’s money-spinning jamboree involving the leading countries put back 12 months.
So by the time the tournament is played, Gilmour could no longer be a teenager.
But I sincerely hope he is playing regularly for Scotland long before then.
The kid is still just 18, but has been a revelation since breaking into the Chelsea first team in the past couple of months.
He’s a prodigious talent, good on the ball, gets from box to box and holding his own in the most competitive league in the world.
From what I’ve heard from people within the game, the Chelsea youngster is very grounded
Anyone who wins man of the match accolades against Liverpool – as Gilmour did recently – the way they’ve been performing this season must be some player.
So I couldn’t understand why he was chosen in the Scotland Under-21 squad last Tuesday, for games that are scheduled around the same time as our Euro 2020 Play-off semi-final against Israel, and potential Final against either Norway or Serbia.
It’s pretty much certain none of those matches will now take place, but that’s not the point.
In my opinion, Gilmour should now be in the full Scotland squad.
What’s more, he should be getting a regular start in the team.
Anyone who seen him knows he can play. But from what I’ve heard from him – and heard about him from people within the game – he appears to be a very grounded kid.
Young Billy is not short of confidence, it would appear – but that is not borne of arrogance, and that is just so typical of the modern players coming through the ranks.
Maybe that is rooted in the academy system so many of the promising young talent goes through these days.
I used to be critical of it, believing boys playing against men in their formative years – as I did – was far better for their development than facing players of the same age week in, week out. Maybe I was wrong.
I remember June 15, 1982 – my 23rd birthday – and lining up alongside Kenny Dalglish to play for Scotland against New Zealand at the World Cup Finals in Spain.
I was as nervous as a kitten – and a bit in awe of Kenny, to be honest.
I can’t see Billy Gilmour being a bag of nerves when he makes his full Scotland debut.
For many reasons, I hope that’s soon.