After England game I knew I had chance of playing agains Modrić... the next morning I had to pack my bags & go straight home

Billy desperate to make up for Covid hell

- KEITH JACKSON

BILLY GILMOUR had just enjoyed the greatest game of his fledgling career.

To the watching world, that night at Wembley three years ago was the launchpad that would inevitably blast him towards football's stratosphere.

But after the dizzying high of dominating England's midfield under their own arch in his first ever Scotland start, came a crash landing at rock bottom the following morning when a positive Covid test meant his Euros was over.

Gilmour, who had only just turned 20, was told by the medics to leave Scotland's team hotel without so much as saying goodbye.

He wasn't even permitted to pick up his boots and lucky, personalised shin-guards from the kit room. Mementoes of a magical moment which remain missing to this day.

He drove home alone to his London apartment and locked himself inside for 10 days, enduring the very tournament which was supposed to mark his coming of age. And watching the wizardly Luca Modric - a boyhood idol - hypnotise the very midfield he ought to have been starring in.

Sometimes the word "ouch" just doesn't get remotely close.

Which is why he intends to make the most of what is about to come his way here in Germany over the next few weeks and to ensure Euro 2024 is remembered as his very own relaunch.

"All I remember is watching the Croatia game in my room, not being able to do anything Gilmour said with a wince yesterday as he took his turn at performing media duties here in Scotland's GarmischPartenkirchen base camp.

"I had to go straight to my house. I had my car so I had to drive straight there, no stops. That was isolation for 10 days.

"I felt fine, it was just the test meant I couldn't do anything.

"At first I had been happy just to be part of the 26-man squad. I hadn't featured at all for Scotland before then.