Scotland star rated 'good enough for Man City' as international teammate reminds of Erling Haaland

Scotland claimed a morale-boosting point against Portugal at Hampden on Tuesday to avoid the unwanted record of a fifth successive defeat for the first time in their history.

The national side are on a tough run of just one win in 16 matches but the encouraging performances in Nations League A have helped restore some positivity after a disappointing Euros.

Narrow single-goal losses to Poland, Portgual and Croatia were harsh on Steve Clarke's side, with last minute anguish in all three matches proving the difference between a draw and defeat.

There was no such late heartbreak for the Scots this time as they held Portugal to a goalless stalemate in Glasgow to finally get some reward for their improved displays since switching from three to four at the back.

One man who is becoming increasingly central to the Scotland cause is Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour. The 23-year-old was a stand-out performer for Steve Clarke's men against the Portuguese, scoring a 90 per cent pass completion rate against one of the top sides in world football.

Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin reckons the former Chelsea and Brighton star is technically gifted enough to play for Manchester City, comparing him to his former Chelsea teammate Jorginho.

Nevin said: “I was delighted to see Billy Gilmour move to Napoli. He started off at Chelsea where he wasn’t getting many minutes and then he wasn’t a guaranteed starter at Brighton. He is a player of international calibre who can control games in a similar manner to the likes of Jorginho, who he played with at Chelsea.

“It’s madness that he wasn’t playing all the time. Although he isn’t starting week-in week-out for Napoli, the style of football will suit him. The first XI there at the moment is amazing, he’ll grow as a player there.

“He was brilliant against Croatia but that’s no surprise because he always has been. I’m of the opinion that you could put Gilmour in the Manchester City side and he’d look fine. He’s a very capable technical player.”

Gilmour’s Napoli teammate Scott McTominay is another key figure for Scotland with Nevin also suggesting that Manchester United should have done everything to keep the midfielder and they would be in the top four if the entire squad worked as hard as the Scotsman.

Napoli duo Billy Gilmour (left) and Scott McTominay are key figures for Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group) | SNS Group

“United were a better team and a better club with McTominay,” he said. “However, every team needs money at the moment because of Financial Fair Play. In a perfect world, I don’t think they would have let him go. If I was there, I would’ve done absolutely everything to keep him.

“He gives the team real spirit. Darren Fletcher was never the most eye-catching player at United, but when he played, the team looked better; it’s the same with McTominay. If everyone in the United team worked as hard as him, they’d easily be in the top four.”

Comparing McTominay to his former teammate Bruno Fernandes, Nevin suggested the 27-year-old would score just as many goals as his ex-midfield partner if he had been played in the same position.

Speaking to BetVictor, Nevin said: “Scott McTominay is an interesting player. He hasn’t got the same skill levels as Bruno Fernandes, nowhere near, but if you put him in the same position he’ll score just as many goals. Sometimes when he’s running with the ball he looks similar to Erling Haaland, like a man running against boys. Since he’s built his confidence, and now that he’s playing in the right position, he’s flying.

“The Napoli fans absolutely love him as well; they love the fact that he’s come from Manchester United. Sometimes players join these big clubs, don’t start well, and the fans get really annoyed with them. That will not happen with Scott McTominay because he works so hard. Real football fans appreciate that and will always back that kind of player. But not only that, he’s a really good player as well.”