Frank Lampard has praised a former Rangers youth prospect, as quoted by the Daily Record.
Billy Gilmour was a stand out in the Gers youth ranks, but unlike with Josh McPake, the club couldn’t quite manage to hold onto him.
Chelsea came knocking in 2017 and signed for the Premier League side for approximately £500k [Daily Record]. The fact that he commanded such a fee despite being just 16 at the time, suggested real potential.
Now, he’s starting to show it with the London giants’ senior team. On Saturday, he took part in his second pre-season game on the bounce. Following a draw against Bohemians in midweek, Frank Lampard’s side hammered St Patrick’s Athletic 4-0.
Gilmour played the second half of the game alongside household names such as Pedro, Marcos Alonso and Olivier Giroud.
“Billy Gilmour has had a brilliant trip,” said Lampard, as quoted by the Daily Record. “As a young lad, the personality he has shown on this trip to play two games at the level he has played them is great.”
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“I just hope Billy pushes on with that this season.”
Chelsea have a reputation for failing to use young talent in the first team, but with the new manager at the helm, Gilmour will be hoping that is set to change.
It’s unlikely we’ll see him turning out regularly in the Premier League for a while yet, though, and a loan move could be on the cards this season.
He needs to build up senior experience, but it’s unlikely he’ll be making a dramatic return to Ibrox any time soon.
