Pat Nevin has urged Scotland manager Steve Clarke to take Chelsea star Billy Gilmour to Euro 2020 this summer.
UEFA have extended squad sizes from 23 to 26 players for the major tournament this summer, which opens the door for the likes of Chelsea man Gilmour to make the squad, despite not being capped as yet. Gilmour could be a Champions League winner by the end of the season after Thomas Tuchel’s side reached the final of the competition.
Gilmour could win the Champions League with Chelsea. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
It won’t guarantee him a Euro 2020 place but Nevin reckons he has to go: “Billy wouldn’t let him (Clarke) down. I watch him all the time and I can tell him that. You need players you can trust and that’s what you’d get. The sad thing is Clarkey doesn’t know it yet because he’s not seen him in the dark blue shirt of Scotland.
“Those extra squad places give him the option and I would like to see him there. I won’t be calling up Clarkey shouting and screaming, calling him names, if he doesn’t pick him — but I think he should. In Scotland, we have always been stunningly slow in promoting young players, with very few exceptions.
“We stick with experienced players and are slow to bring younger guys in. I get it. If you pick a kid and something goes wrong then, as the manager, you will be battered for being naive and stupid. But I would definitely take him, because he’s such a high-quality player. He’s played against top international players and has been comfortable.
Nevin backs him. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
“He won’t get absolutely over-run. There have been a couple of games where he’s found it difficult but that’s as much down to being thrown in at different times, rather than getting a run. But looking at the technical standard, he’s absolutely up there.
“Even looking at the bigger picture, in four years’ time we’re definitely going to be using him. We might as well get him used to it. I respect Clarkey’s decision if he doesn’t take him. But I’d like to see him go.”
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