BARRY FERGUSON

THERE’S just something special about Billy Gilmour. Something very different from the rest.

I started hearing those noises about four or five years ago when he was coming through the ranks at Rangers and I dug around to find out as much about this boy as I could.

I watched him live a couple of times, playing in the Glasgow Cup at night when he was still going to school through the day.

I studied what I could of him on the internet and spoke to people in the game who were working with him. All of them said the same things.

So I was really excited when I saw he made his first start for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

I had been waiting for that moment for a long time because I am convinced this kid is going all the way to the top.

I’m excited for him. I’m excited for his family. But most of all I’m excited for Scottish football because I truly believe IBROX LEGEND WRITES EXCLUSIVELY FOR YOU EVERY WEEK we’ll be building our national team around this boy for many years to come. To put it simply, we haven’t produced a player like this in decades.

That’s not me having a pop at the likes of Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney or Scott McTominay – who have all made it to the highest level of the English game.

But, like I say, there’s something special about Billy.

Unlike the other lads, he’s not a full-back or a defensive midfield player.

This is a guy who can create and score goals and who does all his best work up the other end of the pitch.

In other words, he’s a match winner and I can’t remember the last time Scotland had a player we could say that about.

Technically, there is no doubt he has the ability to go as far in the game as he wants to.

We’ve all seen young boys come through in the past who had the world at their feet but never quite managed to reach their full potential.

The thing that makes Billy that little bit different is his desire, attitude and hunger. I see it all in his eyes.

From everything I know about the kid, I get the sense that he’s a grounded, respectful young man who has clearly been brought up properly.

Most of all, I see a kid who