March 2020

Billy Gilmour has been named in Scotland's U21 squad despite calls for the Chelsea midfielder to be included in the senior set up.

Gilmour was tipped to earn a first senior call-up after back-to-back man-of-the-match performances in Chelsea's wins over Liverpool and Everton in the past week.

Scotland face Serbia in a crucial play-off at Hampden Park on March 26 before a potential trip to either Serbia or Norway to ensure qualification to this summer's European Championship.

The 18-year-old made his debut at U21 level at the Toulon Tournament in the summer of 2018 where he won "Revelation of the Tournament" as Scotland finished fourth.

Former Rangers full-back Steven Smith called for Gilmour to be included in the senior set-up this month.

On Monday, Smith told Sky Sports News: "In my opinion, it's quite simple. He's got to be in there. In that area of the pitch we are relatively strong so there is real competition for places in the middle of the pitch.

"When you're playing at that level in the Premier League, you've got to be in the Scotland squad. I don't think it would be a risk."

Like Smith, Gilmour began his career at Rangers and has made constant progress since moving to Chelsea in the summer of 2017 at the age of 15.

Scotland have a wealth of in-form midfielders to choose from, including the likes of Scott McTominay, the returning John McGinn, Sheffield United's John Fleck, Ryan Jack of Rangers and Celtic duo Callum McGregor and Stuart Armstrong.

Gilmour recently ruled out ever playing for England despite being eligible to represent the country from July 2022.

U21 manager Scot Gemmill, who named Gilmour in a 21-man squad, gave first-time call-ups to Hibernian striker Jamie Gullan and Dundee United forward Louis Appere.

Analysis from Sky Sports Scotland reporter Luke Shanley...

Gilmour has been the much-talked-about talent of Scottish football for a long time and it is no surprise here that his talent is now shining through.

This week, the reaction in Scotland to his breakthrough has been 'yeah, and the Beatles have split up too'. But it's great that people are now sitting up and taking note of him in England, now he's doing it on the big stage for Chelsea.

It is only two games of course, and he still has to keep it going. Potential is one thing, doing it is the other. But it's a good start for the kid, who seems to see the game like a snooker player; two or three moves ahead.

The only surprise this week is that he remains with Scotland's U21 squad rather than the senior one. Looking at the example of one of his Chelsea contemporaries, Ethan Ampadu is now into double figures for senior caps for Wales, having also made his debut at 17, and Wales will no doubt reap the benefits of his early introduction to senior football.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke may also have been tempted to blood the young Gilmour or at least begin to assimilate him into the senior setup, but will also have had his plans in place for a while and currently has a strong midfield in John McGuinn, Scott McTominay and Kenny Mclean, as well as having Celtic players Callum McGregor and James Forrest.

Clarke may also deem it more beneficial for Gilmour to keep getting good game-time with the U21s, who are on the verge of qualifying for the European Championships for the first time since 1996. The U21s boss Scott Gemmill knows Gilmour well and admitted his surprise he is not in the full squad, but he is also delighted to have him available for the games against Croatia and Greece.

One thing is for sure, this guy is the future of Scottish football and, if his development continues in the way that it has, he has a chance of making the senior squad for Euro 2020.

The former Rangers player would be available for England as a home-grown player at the end of the season but, just listening to the kid and going by his previous comments, there is only one national anthem he will be singing and that is 'Flower of Scotland' at Hampden Park.

Scotland U21 squad

Goalkeepers: Robby McCrorie (Livingston, on loan from Rangers), Ross Doohan (Ayr United, on loan from Celtic), Kieran Wright (Alloa Athletic, on loan from Rangers)

Defenders: Daniel Harvie (Ayr United), Ross McCrorie (Portsmouth, on loan from Rangers), Lewis Mayo (Partick Thistle, on loan from Rangers), George Johnston (Feyenoord), Patrick Reading (Stevenage), Stephen Welsh (Celtic), Barry Maguire (Motherwell)

Midfielders: Lewis Ferguson (Aberdeen), Andy Irving (Hearts), Billy Gilmour (Chelsea), Lewis Smith (Hamilton Academical), Stephen Kelly (Ayr United, on loan from Rangers), Lewis Moore (Hearts)

Forwards: Glenn Middleton (Bradford City, on loan from Rangers), Jamie Gullian (Hibernian), Connor McLennan (Aberdeen), Fraser Hornby (Kortrijk, on loan from Everton), Louis Appere (Dundee United)