Clarke insists Gilmour has made a move in the right direction
EVEN without the inconvenient blend of illness and injury that has robbed Steve Clarke of three experienced midfielders, Billy Gilmour would have been a likely starter in Denmark on Wednesday.
Now, the 20-year-old’s presence at the heart of the Scotland team looks essential.
In the circumstances, Clarke (pictured right with Gilmour) is especially glad the young playmaker has chosen to go out on loan to Norwich City this season.
The easy and, indeed, glamorous option would have been for Gilmour to stay put at Stamford Bridge. But by swapping fringe status at Chelsea to play weekly at a newly-promoted team, he stands to accelerate his development as a footballer. Gilmour was preparing for the Champions League final when he was named in Clarke’s squad for Euro 2020 and had just tucked away his winner’s medal when he made his Scotland debut in a pre-tournament friendly against the Netherlands.
An unused substitute as Thomas Tuchel’s side triumphed over Manchester City in Porto, the former Rangers youngster wasn’t deemed ready to start in the curtain-raiser against the Czech Republic at Hampden in June, but got the nod and starred in the second group fixture against England.
Up against his Chelsea club-mate Mason Mount, Gilmour established a quick and slick rapport with Callum McGregor and displayed an uncanny ability to hold on to the ball no matter how hard he was pressed.
A positive Covid test would prematurely end his tournament but that Wembley performance served notice that he could potentially orchestrate Scotland’s midfield for the next decade and more.
With Scott McTominay, John
McGinn and Stuart Armstrong all out of the midweek qualifier in Copenhagen, the McGregor-Gilmour axis will likely be given a second run and Clarke is heartened that Gilmour’s talents are now being deployed regularly at Premier League level.
‘We had a chat over the course of the summer when we were together,’ said the national coach. ‘Billy was driving it, saying he needed to play. It’s going to be interesting. ‘I watched his first game against Liverpool at Carrow Road.
‘He will have to adapt his game, find a different game. But I think it’s a great move for him, although he’s now going to be playing at a team that won’t dominate the ball, that’s not going to have the best players on the pitch every week. He’s probably learned that already.
‘It will be a good learning experience for Billy and, with the qualities he has, I’m sure he’ll adapt and do well for Norwich.’
A former Chelsea defender himself, Clarke knows the standards and status of his old club have moved to a new level since his own playing career.
The European champions stockpile young players from across the globe and farm out a squad’s worth at a time in order to