Image source, SNS Image caption, Billy Gilmour left the team hotel on crutches
Billy Gilmour admits "it's been a tough one to get my head around" after the Napoli midfielder was forced to drop out of Scotland's World Cup squad through injury.
The 24-year-old pulled up with a knee problem during Saturday's 4-1 warm-up friendly win over Curacao at Hampden Park and had to be replaced shortly before half-time.
Gilmour was able to walk off the pitch, but a scan later ruled him out of the tournament and he was pictured being consoled by captain Andy Robertson and other team-mates in the team hotel lobby before leaving on crutches and with his knee in a brace.
He has since been replaced in the squad with Manchester United 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher.
Speaking for the first time publicly, former Rangers, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Gilmour said on Instagram: "I haven't got the words to describe how I'm feeling right now.
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Published 1 day ago "Being so close to a childhood dream of mine, to play in a World Cup, and now it has been taken away from me with an injury. It's been a tough one to get my head around.
"Your support and kind messages over the last few days mean the world to me and haven't gone unnoticed, so thank you so much.
"I'll see you all back doing what I love again soon, but until then, let's get behind the team and cheer them on. Come on Scotland!"
Scotland have qualified for their first World Cup finals since 1998.
Head coach Steve Clarke and his squad left Glasgow for the United States on Sunday and face Bolivia in their final warm-up friendly on Saturday in New Jersey.
Scotland start their Group C campaign against Haiti on Sunday, 14 June before playing Morocco and Brazil.
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Sources: BBC Sport
