Scotland starlet Billy Gilmour has been praised by fans far and wide after Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel handed him a rare Premier League start.
A 2-0 win over Fulham courtesy of goals from Kai Havertz allowed Gilmour vital minutes ahead of Euro 2020 this summer, with Scotland manager Steve Clarke allowed to pick 26 players for his Scots squad. Tuchel has previously urged Clarke to pick Gilmour despite his lack of minutes for Chelsea.
Chelsea won with Billy Gilmour involved. (Photo by Ian Walton – Pool/Getty Images)
While perhaps lacking in some of the physical aspects of the game – as to be expected at 19 years of age – Gilmour’s technical ability shone as he was almost given the sole role of controlling the Chelsea midfield alongside the more attacking Mason Mount and Hakim Ziyech.
Gilmour burst onto the scene under Frank Lampard last season but after the former Chelsea manager’s departure, Tuchel has restricted him to FA Cup appearances and cameos, although he has regularly been on the Premier League benches. The German will no doubt be impressed after handing the Scots teen a first league start of the season.
Fans have descended upon social media to praise the Scotland talent, but most are aware there’s much more to come from the talent who will no doubt be eager to make Scotland’s Euro 2020 squad. Not including regular picks in the squad, he will need to beat the likes of David Turnbull and Ryan Gauld to reach Clarke’s coveted 26-man team.
Mount – Gilmour is our midfield two for today – 22 and 19 years old.
The future of Chelsea lineup alongside eachother today. #CHEFUL pic.twitter.com/9hthiM7VHL
— LDN (@LDNFootbalI) May 1, 2021
Tuchel playing Mason Mount and Billy Gilmour together #CHEFUL #Chelsea #CFC pic.twitter.com/enlWYxMuQi
— Big cheese🌬💨💨 (@imaginebluetit) May 1, 2021
So happy for Billy Gilmour!🥰
Not his best game and didn’t have any support in midfield defensively for the most part. But we need to keep in mind this was his first game in over a month and he has 0 match sharpness. A performance to build on for the young boy💪🏼#CFC | #CHEFUL pic.twitter.com/V4TRjtesai
— ChelseaFCBlogs (@ChelseaFCBlogs_) May 1, 2021
Billy Gilmour is fantastic. pic.twitter.com/QGK3j5CtOM
— Arnold (@arnoldi254) May 1, 2021
Billy Gilmour is 19 and has played around 25 first team games. He’s a fantastic talent at a huge club but he really needs to play some more games to develop. 10 odd games a season is a waste of one of Scotland’s brightest talents. At same age James McCarthy had played nearly 150.
— Colin Wallace (@colwall1975) May 1, 2021
Billy Gilmour – makes playing for Chelsea at his age look effortless but hasn’t yet been in a Scotland squad 🤠
— John (@JStoo294) May 1, 2021
With Billy Gilmour starting tonight for Chelsea will this finally stop the ‘ he should come back on loan’ brigade ? However if Clarke doesn’t pick him for the Euros it does prove he is clueless as Scotland doesn’t have any players of his talent.
— Ted (@IBoyd1966) May 1, 2021
Billy Gimour wasn't influential but didn't do anything wrong. Lasted 90 minutes no problem. #motd #CHEFUL If #Scotland #Euro2020 squad was 23 man, no. 26 man, yes. 23 from qualifying squads. 3 extras, Gilmour, Turnbull, Jason Kerr.
— Gregor Paton (@gjp1969) May 1, 2021
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