Billy Gilmour faces a huge challenge at Chelsea – but the one-time Rangers prodigy is going about his business in the best way possible.
There may not be a more difficult team for a young player to break into than Chelsea. Though there has been a few short-lived exceptions over the years, the fact that John Terry remains the most recent academy graduate to force his way into the first-team on a long-term basis speaks volumes about the club’s youth policy.
These days, it appears that young players are stockpiled, groomed and sold on for profits rather than developed for first-team duty. However, if Billy Gilmour keeps on earning rave reviews for Chelsea’s Under-18 side, he can harbour realistic hopes of bucking the trend.
Fans and pundits alike were lining up to warn the former Rangers wonderkid of the dangers of moving to Stamford Bridge this summer, citing the infamous tale of Islam Feruz, who swapped Celtic for Chelsea at the age of 15 and is still there, seven years later, awaiting his senior debut.
The Scottish Sun reported that Chelsea beat off competition from the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona for Gilmour. However, after marking his Under-18 bow with a gem of a goal against Arsenal, he continues to impress.
And he has done his growing reputation no harm at all with another stunner at the weekend, smashing in from range in a 5-0 win against Swansea City to take his tally to two in two games.
Look away Rangers fans. Gilmour may actually be the real deal.
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