Gilmour 'excited' at prospect of 50th Scotland cap before Slovenia Nations League tie

Billy Gilmour said he is "excited" at the prospect of winning a 50th Scotland cap as he prepares to face Slovenia at home in Nations League Group B1 on Tuesday. The 25-year-old midfielder is eyeing the milestone while focusing on the match and a positive result.

Still described in the article as "fresh-faced" and "slight of stature," Gilmour's career has been disrupted by untimely injuries, yet he is now securing regular first-team starts for both Scotland and Napoli. His opportunities have been aided in part by the absence through illness of clubmate Scott McTominay, and new national head coach Sebastien Pocognoli has urged him to adopt more advanced positions that McTominay occupied under predecessor Steve Clarke. Gilmour, however, played the cap milestone down as "overall, it's another game".

The midfielder acknowledged local recognition off the pitch after juvenile club Ardrossan Winton Rovers named a stand in his honour as part of a sponsorship deal. He admitted to "excitement" at the prospect of the 50th cap but said his focus was "hopefully a good game and a win." "I'm always so proud to put on my national team jersey and go out there," he added, and "We're very lucky as well. Not everyone gets to represent their country in sports."

Gilmour's pathway began when Chelsea recruited him from Rangers' academy as he was about to make the Ibrox first team aged 16, and he made his Premier League debut two years later. His progress at Stamford Bridge was interrupted by a serious knee injury, he endured a difficult loan at Norwich City before rebuilding confidence at Brighton & Hove Albion, and he has since established his reputation with Napoli after joining at the same time McTominay arrived from Manchester United. With Napoli he won Serie A in their first season, but his season was again interrupted by a groin problem at the turn of the year and then by a knee injury in the final pre-tournament friendly that ruled him out of this summer's World Cup.

Asked to reflect on his career, Gilmour summed it up as "Ups and downs" and said he had "Matured a lot" since his first cap in 2021. He added: "But, for me, I think I'm still the same player. "I still want to get on the ball, get on the ball technically. I know I'm not the strongest or biggest, so I try to stay away from all that, but I try to do my best whatever I'm told to do."

Pocognoli has instructed Gilmour to influence games "higher up the pitch," and the player welcomed the chance to play in a more forward role: "It's nice to hear that he wants me to play in a more advanced role," he said. Gilmour set up Sassuolo striker Kieron Bowie for the opening goal of Pocognoli's reign and helped secure the Belgian coach's first victory, 2-0 in North Macedonia on Saturday. He added: "If he asks me to do a job then I'll do my best anywhere on the pitch, whether it's in defence or up front. Most of all, I'm just happy to be playing. "I know, if I'm not on the ball, I can't be a threat as much as I want to in the game."

Describing tactical changes under Pocognoli, Gilmour said: "As a group, you've seen we are aggressive and on the front foot, playing through the lines, and we've created a lot of chances, although we have not took as many as we'd have liked. "But we're creating chances, the fans are getting excited and us, as players, we enjoy playing it. "Of course it's still early and will take time, but we're doing well so far." Pocognoli has started Gilmour in three games and said: "We try to play the football he also likes because he is really involved in terms of the connection between the defenders and high up the pitch. "With Napoli, he just started to play some minutes before the camp, but now I hope it will help him take the next step with his club."

Gilmour paid tribute to captain Andy Robertson's achievement, calling Robertson's 100th cap in Skopje "incredible" and "amazing," and said he sees himself helping younger players entering the squad. Slovenia counterpart Bostjan Cesar described his respect for Gilmour: "Billy Gilmour is a very good player in the Italian top division and he had a really good season, where he was the engine of his team," adding, "We will try to match his skill."

Gilmour is therefore in line to win his 50th Scotland cap when his side host Slovenia in Nations League Group B1 on Tuesday, a personal milestone that will come amid the new tactical approach under Pocognoli and after three successive starts for the player.