Steve Clarke explains Scotland World Cup call for Tyler Fletcher
The 19-year-old steps in for the injured Billy Gilmour after making his international debut on Saturday.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke revealed why he bypassed his World Cup standby list to replace injured Billy Gilmour with 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher.
Midfielder Fletcher, the son of former Scotland captain Darren, was handed his international debut in coming on for the second half in Saturday’s 4-1 friendly win over Curacao at Barclays Hampden.
While Connor Barron, Andy Irving and Lennon Miller were put on standby when the 26-man squad was announced, Manchester United’s Fletcher – not in the original squad – was drafted in after Napoli playmaker Gilmour suffered a knee injury during the first half against Dick Advocaat’s side, which has ruled him out of the tournament that starts next month in North America.
Before flying out from Glasgow airport to Scotland’s Florida training camp on Sunday afternoon, Clarke said: “Everybody is devastated for Billy.
“It is heartbreaking when it happens at any time during the campaign but for it to happen in the send-off game is particularly tough.
“For myself, it was a really difficult night, I haven’t slept much, I have to be honest.
“I had to disappoint another three players this morning again, to tell them that they had missed out.
“I just felt Tyler came into the squad this week and showed up really well, did well in the game so that was the thinking behind that one.
“Obviously devastated for Billy and also really disappointed for Lennon, Andy Irving and Connor Barron.”
John McGinn revealed Gilmour’s bad luck had left a “bittersweet” taste.
The midfielder said: “We are excited. Obviously our first thoughts this morning are with Billy.
“He is a huge part of the group, a big part of the country moving forward.
“We are devastated for him, the same way we would be for any of us who missed out so late. So we are thinking of him.
“It’s a little bit of a bittersweet taste in our mouth but we have to now focus, enjoy it and do ourselves proud.”
The Aston Villa captain believes the Scotland squad has another top recruit in Fletcher.
He said: “I was very impressed, obviously it is in very difficult circumstances for him but it just shows you that football changes very quickly.
“I played with his dad Darren, so it is an amazing day for his family and he has shown that he is capable of competing with us.
“So he is not just here to make up the numbers, he is here to impress and hopefully help us, not only now but in the next 10/15 years.”
After the final warm-up against Bolivia in New Jersey on Saturday, the Scots get ready for their group games against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil.
It will be Scotland’s first appearance at a World Cup finals since 1998 and after guiding his side to successive European Championships, Clarke is determined to qualify for the knockout stages on the “biggest stage in the world” for the first time.
He said: “The target is always the same.
“This will be the third tournament we’ve been at, we want to be the first Scottish team to get to the knockout stages of the tournament, that’s our expectation and that’s what we aim to do.
“I think there is a hunger and desire to do something that no Scotland team has ever done before.
“I can feel that within the squad and hopefully that can be the impetus to get us over the line.”