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Scotland boss Steve Clarke admitted he had endured a sleepless night before handing Tyler Fletcher a sensational World Cup call-up.
The 19-year-old Manchester United midfielder was drafted in to replace the injured Billy Gilmour as Scotland jetted off for the forthcoming finals in America.
Fletcher has played just 17 minutes of senior football at club level and was among the group of young players invited to boost numbers at last week’s Scotland training sessions.
Named as a substitute for the send-off game against Curacao, which Scotland won 4-1 at Hampden Park yesterday, Fletcher found himself making his international debut after Gilmour went off with a knee problem.
When Gilmour was later ruled out of the World Cup, Clarke hinted that Fletcher was a contender to replace him, despite having played only twice, as a late substitute, for Manchester United.
Unlike fellow midfielders Lennon Miller, Connor Barron and Andy Irving, each of whom has been capped before, Fletcher was not on the standby list compiled by Clarke when he named his original squad.
Tyler Fletcher made his Scotland debut as a substitute in the friendly victory over Curacao
Scotland’s players and staff pose for photographs as they board their flight to the World Cup
But the son of former Scotland captain Darren had been so impressive in training, and against Curacao, that Clarke decided to fast-track him into the squad that departed Glasgow Airport today.
It was a bold decision by Clarke on a day of mixed emotions for him and his players, who boarded their flight to Florida without Gilmour, the 24-year-old Napoli midfielder.
‘Everybody is devastated for Billy,’ said Clarke. ‘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.’
Before Scotland took off, images circulated of Gilmour leaving the team hotel on crutches, wearing a knee brace. He will now begin his rehabilitation process in Italy.
John McGinn, the Aston Villa midfielder, said Gilmour’s injury had left a ‘bittersweet’ taste as Scotland headed off to play in their first World Cup finals since 1998. ‘We are excited,’ said McGinn. ‘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.’
McGinn, who skippered Villa to a historic Europa League triumph last month, believes Scotland have enlisted another top recruit in Fletcher, who had also been eligible for England and the Republic of Ireland.
‘I was very impressed,’ said McGinn. ‘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.
Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour has been ruled out of the World Cup finals with a knee injury
‘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 will get ready for their group games against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil.
Having guided his side to successive European Championships, Clarke is determined to lead Scotland into the knockout stage of a World Cup finals for the first time in their history.
‘The target is always the same,’ he said. ‘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.’
