Euro 2020: Scotland’s new star Billy Gilmour tests positive for Covid

Scotland’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the European Championships were rocked by news star midfielder Billy Gilmour has tested positive for Covid-19.

A man of the match display against England from the 20-year-old raised expectations that Scotland could progress from a winner-takes-all clash against Croatia at Hampden Park on Tuesday night. 

But Gilmour will play no part against Luka Modric and Co after testing positive for the virus. He will be required to self-isolate for 10 days, all but ending his involvement at Euro 2020. 

A statement from the Scottish FA read: ‘Having liaised with Public Health England since the positive test was recorded, Billy will now self-isolate for 10 days and therefore miss tomorrow’s UEFA EURO 2020 Group D match against Croatia at Hampden.’ 

Soon after news broke of Gilmour’s positive test, a video surfaced from the team hotel where the young midfielder is seen enjoying some ping pong.

Taken on Andy Robertson’s Instagram story, the video shows Gilmour, along with John McGinn, unwinding with a game in the team hotel. 

Billy Gilmour has tested positive for Covid-19, the Scottish Football Association confirmed

The Chelsea midfielder’s enforced absence in isolation is a huge blow to boss Steve Clarke

Scotland were looking to Gilmour to inspire a win in their crucial final game against Croatia

The video has since been deleted from the Liverpool full-back’s Instagram account.  

Sportsmail has learned that have said there are no close contacts in the Scotland camp that will be forced into isolation as a result of the positive test. 

Gilmour was left out of the side for the opening group defeat to Czech Republic but proved a revelation in the match at Wembley against England. 

He was seen hugging some of his Chelsea team-mates after the match and it would be expected that there will be question marks around both Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount prior to England’s final group game. 

A video, which has since been deleted by Andy Robertson, emerged of Gilmour playing ping pong in the Scotland team hotel with the Liverpool full-back and Aston Villa’s John McGinn

Both Scotland and England players are routinely tested for Covid-19 and the task now will be to determine if Gilmour is merely an isolated case of a positive result. 

The Blues youngster was hailed by Patrick Vieira, Graeme Souness and Gary Neville as a difference maker in 76 minutes at Wembley in what was his first start for his country.  

‘I really love his technical ability. He loves to get on the ball,’ Vieira said on ITV.  

‘His team-mates aren’t scared to give him the ball because they know how good he is on the ball. I think he has a really good future ahead of him.’

The youngster has been so impactful in the early part of his career that he has claimed the man-of-the-match gong on his first appearances in the Premier League, the FA Cup, the Champions League and the Euros. 

Gilmour was almost certain to be the leader of the midfield on Tuesday at Hampden for the match-up against Croatia. 

But his enforced absence arrives as a crushing blow for Scotland and their hopes of progressing. 

Even if Scotland progress without him, his 10-day isolation period would also rule him out of any last-16 tie all but ending his Euros run after one game. 

Gilmour was seen hugging two of his Chelsea team-mates, Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount, on Friday following his man-of-the-match display at Wembley Stadium against England

More to follow.