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Billy Gilmour Could Be Exactly What This Chelsea Team Is Missing

​Chelsea's 2-1 win over Hull City on Saturday was positive for a number of reasons. There were several impressive performances, and one of the finest came from young midfielder Billy Gilmour.

The 18-year-old only saw 22 minutes of action after replacing Mason Mount as a second half substitute, but that's all the time he needed to prove to fans that they should be incredibly excited about him.

Billy Gilmour,Martin Samuelsen

Having sat on the bench and watched ​Mateo Kovačić produce a passing masterclass in the first half, Gilmour knew exactly what ​Chelsea want from their midfielders - passing, mobility and a desire to make something happen.


The Scot brought all of that to the game. He always wanted to be on the ball, but not just for the sake of it. Instead, you could see Gilmour look forward every time he was in possession, because he wanted to make things happen.


Whether he was passing or dribbling through the lines, Chelsea looked better when Gilmour was on the ball, and manager Frank Lampard acknowledged that after the game.

Frank Lampard,Billy Gilmour

"I thought Billy Gilmour was the best player on the pitch for the period of time he was on the pitch," Lampard told the club's ​official website.

"He came in, he passed it, he moved it, he played the simple pass through the lines, he had little bits of contact. I trust him to come on and do the job."

What makes Gilmour so exciting is his versatility and well-rounded skill set. Primarily a creative midfielder, the Scot's bread and butter is passing the ball, but that's just the start of what makes him great.

His level of composure is almost frightening, as are his vision and agility. When Gilmour is on the ball, it's not easy to get it away from him, which is made all the more impressive when you see his diminutive frame.

Despite his size, Gilmour boasts a tenacity and willingness to get physical which Chelsea haven't seen since Diego Costa. Yes, he may not have the raw power to make the same impact as the striker, but that still does not deter him.

Not only does that make him a dangerous creator, but it also means he is a fantastic tackler. He wants to close down opponents and is not afraid of getting hurt doing so.

That willingness to do the dirty work makes Gilmour almost a hybrid of each of Chelsea's senior midfielders. He has vision like Jorginho, passing like Kovačić, movement like Mount and defensive awareness like ​N'Golo Kanté.


Lampard has found it hard to get the right balance in his midfield this season. They have either been too defensive and lacked an attacking spark, or too creative with no physicality or backbone. But that's where Gilmour comes in.


He does it all, and he does it at an incredibly high level. He wants to pass forward and create opportunities, but is also prepared to fight to recover possession. 

Frank Lampard

He is by no means the finished article, and a permanent place in Chelsea's starting lineup would be a step too far right now. However, Gilmour has proven to be ready to play a regular role in this team.


Young players get better with minutes, and the Scot still has plenty of room to grow. But if he gets anywhere close to fulfilling his potential, Chelsea fans could be in for a treat.

For more from Tom Gott, follow him on Twitter!


Source : 90min