Billy Gilmour: Grant Hanley has his say on Norwich City fans' scalding of Scotland team-mate and Chelsea loanee

The football community are fond of talking about “blocking out the noise” whenever major occasions roll round.

In that sense, Grant Hanley seems made for Scotland’s absolute loudhailer of World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine on Wednesday night – an encounter that screams out biggest qualifier for the national team in 23 years. That is because the Norwich City captain appears possessed of professional, invisible earmuffs. Suggested by his musings on what befell his by Scotland team-mate Billy Gilmour as the pair were powerless to prevent the Carrow Road club plunging through the Premier League trap door.

The 20-year-old seemed to bear the brunt of Norwich supporters’ frustration over their club’s relegation, only one year on from their team having ripped it up to claim the Championship title. Perhaps Gilmour’s status as a loan signing from Chelsea made him an easy target. Whatever, after Gilmour was booed by a section of the home fans in January social media was awash with punters laying waste to the youngster’s contribution in Norwich’s downfall. All of which seemed to pass Hanley by.

“To be honest, it's the first I've heard of that,” said the 30-year-old centre-back. “I never realised any of that stuff was going on. And I'm sure Billy is mature enough not to look at that sort of stuff either. Whether you are right or wrong, I'm not sure. It's clear to see Billy is, and is going, to be a top, top player. Obviously he was involved in a team that got relegated so he will naturally be disappointed. But in football, as in general life, if you have a setback or go through a tough period, you learn from that. When Billy learns from that he will come back a better player. There is no doubt in my mind he will be a top