Billy Gilmour to Rangers would not solve one problem but two as 'truly special' star can’t be wasted – Barry Ferguson

I feel a little bit sorry for Billy Gilmour right now. My biggest concern is that the young man might be feeling every bit as sorry for himself.

Because when I look at all the positives around Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad at the moment - and all there is to look forward to over the next few years - the sight of Gilmour sitting on the sidelines is probably the only thing the manager would like to change. Unfortunately, the situation is out of Clarke’s control for the time being. He couldn’t possibly justify giving Gilmour a game against Cyprus or Spain because the boy has hardly had a sniff of first team action at Brighton.

And that will be killing Clarke as much as it’s hurting the player himself. Because - and let’s be in no doubt - Billy Gilmour is something truly special. I’d go as far as to say he could make a real difference between Scotland just appearing at Euro 2024 in Germany and actually making a memorable mark on the entire tournament. Trust me, he’s that good.

But while Billy’s talent is not in question, his luck is a different story. And that’s why I felt some sympathy for him the other night in the immediate aftermath of Scotland’s landmark win over Spain. Hampden Park was buzzing. The players and the manager were enjoying a massive moment in the team’s progression. But while some of them were on the trackside giving interviews, Billy was in the background, doing his running on an empty pitch after playing no part at all in the double header.

I started thinking to myself, ‘What must be going through his head right now. He’ll have been absolutely desperate to have been out there, testing himself against one of the best nations in the world. Proving that he is a match for anyone. Running the show. The way he