The Scottish youngster Billy Gilmour had another spectacular display in Chelsea’s most recent friendly, a convincing 7-1 win over Queen Park Rangers. Current QPR boss, Mark Warburton, has been quite impressed by the meteoric rise of the youngster into the Chelsea first team. Gilmour was previously with the Rangers academy in Scotland and was signed by Chelsea in 2017 for a paltry sum of £500,000.
Warburton remembers seeing the talented midfielder while he was with the Rangers, “His talent was unquestioned. I remember he played against what was a Dundee reserve side with a number of first-team players in it. I’m looking at Billy who was 15 and thinking there is a health-and-safety issue here because he was so slight. But he went out and absolutely ran the show.”
“He had trained with us a couple of times in the first team and I am really pleased to see how he is doing now. What a talent. I think Scotland have a future world-class midfield player, I really do. I think he is going to keep on improving because he is in a great environment with Frank and Jody (Morris, assistant manager) and the players at Chelsea.”
“I very much hope he can continue that progress because, if so, Scotland truly will have a world-class midfield player there.”
Gilmour had two fantastic displays against Liverpool and Everton in March, picking up two back to back man of the match perfoemances earning all round unanimous praise from footballing pundits.
While many of Chelsea’s academy talents are in need of development at other clubs, Billy Gilmour is ready for more first team opportunities at Chelsea.
He always looks to get on the ball at every possible opportunity and spray out passes from the base of midfield. He is fantastic in holding the ball and keeping possession while the rest of the team drives forward. His short stature helps him wriggle out of the tight spaces and easily evade the opposing team pressure.
The 19-year-old midfielder has solid composure on the ball and orchestrates play from deep within the Chelsea midfield, just ahead of the backline.
With N’golo Kanté struggling with injuries, Billy Gilmour’s breakthrough into the first team comes at the perfect time.
N’golo has undoubtedly been Chelsea’s best midfielder in his time at the club. His quality and ability to cover areas all over the pitch make the World Cup winner a real asset to have in the team. But the Frenchman has struggled with persistent injuries and has made only 22 appearances in all competitions this season, last playing in February.
He has missed more games this season than ever before, and injuries have started to get the better of him. 19-year-old Gilmour definitely has the talent and ability to take over the role of Kanté and provides even more going forward. He is never afraid to stick in a challenge and put his body on the line to try and win back possession for his team.
Ex-Chelsea defender Gary Chivers also talked to Goal about the emergence of Billy Gilmour in the absence of Kanté, “I’ve not seen someone come in at that age in that role and be that effective. When you think of N’Golo Kante’s level, you think Billy Gilmour more or less produced that. He wants to join in with the attack as well as defend.”
“I think they have now learned how to play without Kanté now Billy Gilmour is on the scene. Now Chelsea have someone who can defend and go forward at the same time.”