I’LL MOUNT GUARD OVER BILLY THE KID

Mason vows to keep his sensational young team-mate Gilmour grounded

MASON MOUNT vowed to keep Billy Gilmour grounded after his remarkable start to life in the Chelsea first team.

The 18-year-old Scot impressed in his first start against Liverpool in the FA Cup fifth round last week – then repeated the same level of performance against Everton in the 4-0 Premier League canter on Sunday.

Gilmour is just the latest young star to come through the ranks at Chelsea under boss Frank Lampard (right) this season.

And former protege

Mount – now a comparatively wise head having celebrated his 21st birthday in January

– has promised to help his young team-mate deal with the new celebrity status

– although he does not expect it to be a problem in the slightest. “Billy is very grounded,” said Mount.

“He has got a very, very good family around him and he is a very screwed-on boy, so that won’t get to him at all.

“I won’t let it get to him as well – I’ll keep him grounded! No, he’ll be fine.

“I’m not surprised by what he’s done – that’s Billy. I know what he is as a player and as a boy.

“I am very close to him so I know what character he has.

“I had no doubts about him coming in, stepping up and performing like the way he has in the last two games. I have massive confidence in him and he shows it when he comes up out onto the pitch.

“The young players coming through, they are going to have these challenges.

“It is obviously a big achievement to make it into the first team, to start a game at home at Stamford Bridge.

“The way my debut went here was very good. I scored.

“But Billy has stepped up and done brilliantly.

“He’s come into the team, been dominant, been confident on the ball and that’s what you want.”