Billy Gilmour’s emergence in Chelsea’s first team has given Steve Clarke a dilemma ahead of Scotland’s Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel.
Today the Blues kid was named in Scot Gemmill’s under-21 squad for the double header against Croatia and Greece later this month.
But Gemmill confirmed the door to the senior ranks remains open for the 18-year-old.
He said: “I spoke to Steve, met Steve and right now Steve is happy for Billy to be selected for the Under-21s.
“But, as is the same for all the players, at any moment that can change.”
Despite having a number of midfield options at his disposal, Clarke is being encouraged by fans, pundits and former players to pick the youngster, who arrived at Stamford Bridge from Rangers in the summer of 2017.
English Premier League legends Roy Keane, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright also praised Gilmour’s displays against Liverpool and Everton.
Former Manchester United captain Keane said: “His performance [against the Reds] was fantastic.
“I was sitting at home and as the game started I was literally getting out of my seat thinking, who is this kid in midfield?
“There are certain traits you want from a midfielder – quality on the ball, footballing intelligence, composure. He had everything.”
Should Scotland manager Clarke pick Gilmour? The Courier’s writers have their say.
JIM SPENCE
There’s a fine line between over caution and over confidence – Steve Clarke has erred in favour of the former with Billy Gilmour.
Scottish football suffers from a crippling lack of belief and the decision to draft Gilmour, who has now bossed two matches against Liverpool and Everton, into the under-21s and not the full squad confirms that debilitating approach is alive and well.
Of course young players have to be carefully nurtured, but they also have to be trusted, and when they have the sparkling natural ability that Gilmour has shown – along with the confidence to match – then exceptions should be made.
If he can handle games against two top Premier League sides, one of whom is the best in Europe, then a game against Israel should be no bigger a test of his capabilities.
I’m a Steve Clarke fan and shouted for his appointment long ago in The Courier.
But on this occasion, I think he may have succumbed to the Scottish cringe in not fully promoting a player who has the craft, calmness, and football nous of those with additional years, but lesser talents.
Frank Lampard was a star midfielder for club and country and as Chelsea manager has shown complete faith in Gilmour, who seems mature beyond his years.
Denis Law, arguably Scotland’s greatest ever player, scored on his debut as an 18-year-old against Wales.
I’m a great believer that if you’re good enough your old enough. I’d throw Gilmour right into the fray from the start against Israel.
He’s good enough and has at least as much craft and guile as any of the competing midfielders in the squad.
It’s neither brave nor a gamble – it’s just simple recognition of an emerging special talent who deserves to play with the big boys.
IAN ROACHE
I don’t think we are nearly as brave as we think we are when it comes to the national team.
Let’s go for it for a change and throw him straight in.
We can then build the team around Gilmour for years to come. Other countries do it and Scotland should too.
If you’re good enough then you’re old enough and everybody who has seen Gilmour in action knows he’s good enough.
The Chelsea players know it, Blues boss Frank Lampard knows it and national coach Steve Clarke would be won over after a couple of minutes of training.
I don’t even think there should be a debate.
If he isn’t starting against Israel then we have bottled it – pure and simple.
ERIC NICOLSON
It would be utter folly to not call Gilmour up for the full squad.
The argument about developing him in the 21s doesn’t stack up. Are you trying to tell me that training and playing with boys on loan at Alloa and Partick Thistle is going to bring on a lad who has won consecutive man-of-the-match awards against Liverpool and Everton? It would be regression.
Clarke doesn’t have a player like him – one who can dictate the play at the base of midfield and be trusted to barely waste a pass.
The Israel game is ideal. Scotland will dominate the ball and Gilmour will make sure we’re on the front foot. And don’t underestimate the impact this could have on our opponents.
Gilmour already has an aura because of his performances, his club badge and the comments made about him by some of the greats of the game.
Make no mistake, opposition midfielders will be wary of him. When was the last time we could say that?
CALUM WOODGER
I’m not surprised Steve Clarke looks to be ignoring the clamour for Billy Gilmour to be included in the Scotland squad.
His inclusion in Scot Gemmill’s U/21 pool does leave the door ajar for Clarke to still pick him for the “A” team but I can’t see it now.
It may be a case of too much, too soon with both club and country trying to protect the player, which is logical.
However, the Chelsea kid, in my opinion, should definitely be in the squad and will no doubt be considered for future selections, regardless.
I think we would be foolish not to cap him at the earliest opportunity. The 18-year-old is starring for a top-four English Premier League team and should, at the very least, be a part of the senior camp.
Others likely to make the squad, like Kenny McLean and Ryan Jack, are not doing it as well as he is or at as high a level right now.
For that reason, I would still like him to be involved against Israel, probably from the bench, though.
If Scotland can make it through to the play-off final, a player of his quality could make all the difference.
GRAEME FINNAN
There can be no denying Billy Gilmour has the potential to become possibly the best Scottish midfielder in a generation.
His performances for Chelsea in the FA Cup win over Liverpool and the league success against Everton underline the rapid development the precocious 18-year-old is making.
However, Scotland boss Steve Clarke would be taking a major gamble throwing Gilmour into the Hampden cauldron for the national team’s most important game in years.
It’s one thing integrating with players you train with day in and day out, drilling in formations and set plays, to lining up for the first time with guys you met possibly less than a week earlier.
Clarke doesn’t strike me as a gambling man and I’m sure for this game he’ll stick with what he knows.
Although John McGinn is injured, we’re still healthily placed with midfielders – McTominay, McGregor, Christie, Armstrong, Fleck, McLean.
That Gilmour’s time will come seems almost inevitable but Israel should not be his starting point.
It’s maybe wishful thinking but, hopefully, he can feature in some of the friendlies leading up to the summer’s European Championships.
It would be great to see him have the same sort of impact his namesake Mr Bremner (he was 22 when he made his Scotland debut) made on the national side through the 60s and into the 70s.
Gilmour is certainly on the right path.
MARC DEANIE
This shouldn’t be a difficult decision for Steve Clarke – he has to put Billy Gilmour in the Scotland squad.
Why not start him against Israel as well? This lad is bossing brilliant English Premier League midfielders like Liverpool’s Fabinho and Everton’s Andre Gomes.
Forget about the under-21s for now.
Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi both made their England debuts at 18. Kieran Tierney did the same for Scotland at the same age in 2016 against Denmark.
We must pick our best players for the national team and Billy, right now, falls into that category.
Scotland have decent midfield options but let’s not get carried away. Clarke isn’t Didier Deschamps before the 2018 World Cup leaving a four-time Champions League winner in Karim Benzema out of his squad safe in the knowledge he has Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe at his disposal.
According to those who have coached and trained with Billy, he is a truly special talent. I’m not sure we have anyone else in the squad who fits that bill.
