The Blues teenager has been tipped for the top by Manchester United legend Roy Keane and could follow in the footsteps of another Red Devils icon.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard claims to see shades of Manchester United legend Paul Scholes in Billy Gilmour and has the same opinion with Roy Keane’s “world-class” assessment of the exciting 18-year-old.
The highly-rated Scotland international is playing a breakthrough campaign in 2019-20.
A senior bow was made for the Blues in August, with a in addition six appearances made since then – with a starting position earned underneath Lampard before soccer shutdown amid the coronavirus crisis. Impressive outings have been put in in opposition to Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton in the FA Cup and Premier League respectively.
His obvious potential saw United great Keane suggest that Gilmour is capable of reaching the very top of the game.
Lampard shares that opinion, telling Sky Sports: “I had to put my cup of tea down to hear Roy say some thing nice!
“Keane was a fantastic midfield player and he possibly won’t give credit until it’s due – and it clearly was due. He’s right, I heard the statements he made about Billy and I assume he’s spot on. Billy need to be happy with that and if he can go and follow the ideas that any one like Roy Keane says when it comes to midfield play he won’t go far wrong.”
While incomes praise from Keane, Gilmour has additionally drawn comparison to another Old Trafford icon.
Lampard is reluctant to put the youngster in the same bracket as 11-time Premier League champion Scholes, however admits he is cut from similar cloth to the ex-England international.
The Blues manager, who spent thirteen years at Stamford Bridge in his playing days, added: “Paul Scholes is of course one of the biggest midfield players I’ve played against in the Premier League.
“He would constantly pick the right pass, he had incredible range. If you did try and bounce from midfield and get to him and get close to him he’d simply play it round the nook because he knew you were coming. Billy has proven early signs of that kind of ability.
“I’m not comparing him to Scholesy, no way at all, however in terms of those fundamentals that you mentioned, then Billy without a doubt has them and that’s a great platform to construct hopefully a superb career.”
