Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour ended a long wait for a club start in Napoli's 1-0 Champions League defeat to Arsenal. The loss marked a third straight defeat for the Serie A side, a slump not seen at the club for many years.
Gilmour, who last started for Napoli in a win over Udinese in May, played the full match in central midfield. His return was complicated by a first-half booking. The midfielder's season had been delayed by a knee injury sustained in a Scotland friendly win, an issue that subsequently ruled him out of the World Cup.
The return to competitive action is timely for new Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli, who names his first squad next week for Nations League matches. Gilmour's availability is a boost for the side. Scotland's recent form shows consecutive losses, but they will look to bounce back in their next fixture. Fans can track the team's upcoming schedule on our fixtures page.
The midfielder had spoken openly about the frustration of missing the global tournament. "Being so close to a childhood dream of mine, to play in a World Cup and now it has been taken away from me with an injury," Gilmour said. "It's been a tough one to get my head around."
The context of Gilmour's return is a deepening crisis at his club. The loss to Arsenal was Napoli's third defeat in a row across all competitions, a sequence last endured by the club decades ago. They finished behind champions Inter Milan last season, failing to defend their Serie A title, which led to the departure of their manager. Antonio Conte, who signed both Gilmour and fellow Scot Scott McTominay, now presides over this challenging period.
Gilmour's Napoli teammate Scott McTominay was absent from the matchday squad entirely. The midfielder underwent successful heart surgery earlier in the week after being diagnosed with a mild, benign cardiac arrhythmia. His recovery timeline remains unclear, posing another question for Pocognoli as he assembles his squad. Supporters can check the latest squad news and player availability on our dedicated squad section.
Gilmour had made his seasonal debut as a substitute in a loss to Inter Milan prior to this full start. His reintegration offers a positive note for Scotland amidst a difficult spell. The focus now shifts to the Nations League, where a fit-again Gilmour will aim to help improve recent results. The full list of recent results is available in our stats archive.
