Scotland boss Steve Clarke was left "devastated" for Billy Gilmour after the midfielder was ruled out of the 2026 World Cup through a knee injury.
The 24-year-old Napoli playmaker was forced off in Saturday's 4-1 friendly win over Curacao at Barclays Hampden.
Gilmour came off second best in a challenge but was able to walk off the pitch and was taken for a scan, with Clarke afterwards admitting in the post-match media conference that he was "100 per cent worried" about his fellow Ayrshireman’s prospects of making it to the USA.
Later on Saturday night, a statement on the Scottish Football Association’s official website confirmed Gilmour would not be on the plane to the Florida training camp on Sunday.
The statement read: "We regret to announce that the knee injury sustained by Billy Gilmour in today’s win over Curacao will rule him out of participation in FIFA World Cup 2026.
"Everyone involved with the Scotland men’s national team wishes Billy a speedy recovery.
"He will now return to his club, SSC Napoli, to commence rehabilitation."
Clarke said: "I am devastated for Billy because he has been an integral part of our World Cup qualifying campaign.
"The timing of this injury is so, so cruel and we all feel for him.
"He knows what we all think of him as a footballer and a person and while no words will give him any comfort tonight, I am certain Billy will have many major tournaments ahead of him in the future."
