NEVIN TIPS KID FOR PLAY-OFFS
PAT NEVIN insists Scotland must hand Billy Gilmour a call-up for the Euro 2020 play-off with Israel after watching the Chelsea teen give European champs Liverpool a schooling.
Former Blues winger Nevin was in awe as the midfielder put in a man-of-the-match display at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday to help his side reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.
And he is convinced his old team-mate Steve Clarke must now use the 18-year-old to boost the nation’s chances of reaching the Euros.
It might not have been Gilmour’s first top-team appearance but Nevin believes the 90 minutes against the runaway league leaders was the breakthrough moment.
And crucially the former Scotland star is convinced Gilmour isn’t just ready to shine for club – he will be even better on the international stage.
Nevin, who won 28 caps, said: “I’m delighted but not massively shocked because I’ve watched enough of Billy’s games and he looks absolutely at ease.
“There was a moment in the game where the ball came to him and there were two or three players around him and Billy just glided past them.
“The noise in the stadium, the understanding that you don’t get that talent by fluke, was absolutely brilliant.
“He was up against top talents, internationals, players with years of experience and he was the best on the park. “His team-mates had confidence to give him the ball in awkward positions and I think he had just one errant pass all night.
“Billy has had a few topteam games and the fans have been talking about him a bit but everybody knew that match against Liverpool was the breakthrough. That was the moment.
“It doesn’t mean he’s going to play every week but
BY FRASER WILSON there’s no doubt in my mind Billy is going to be in that first team for a long, long time because he is perfect for their style of play.
“And I think he will be even better at international football than he is domestically because his technical ability is absolutely nailed on for it.
“Steve Clarke will love having him in the group. Clarkey knows all about him with his Chelsea links and the way Billy has come through the youth levels.
STATS
“Do I think he should be in the squad for the Israel play-off? Yes. There’s an easy answer for you.
“John McGinn and Scott McTominay have been injured and that’s the area where we were strongest.
“But is he as good as anything around? Yes. Bring him in. It’s not fast-tracking a young kid because he’s flavour of the month. You’d be bringing him in because he’s good enough.
“People might say he’s only 5ft 6in and slim – it doesn’t matter. He’s technical enough, can put in a tackle and won’t get bullied off the ball. We need him and we should use him.”
Nevin spent five years as a player at Chelsea after moving south from Clyde as a teenager in 1983.
He retains close links with the London club, working for Chelsea TV, and knows better than most how highly Blues boss Frank Lampard rates Gilmour.
Just two-and-a-half years after making the move from Rangers, Gilmour is now a recognised member of the Chelsea first-team squad.
And Nevin reckons the Scots teenager is in the perfect place to achieve anything he wants from the game.
He said: “I had a chat with
Frank and his assistant Jody Morris a couple of weeks ago about Billy.
“The lovely thing is that Frank and Jody all feel exactly the same. There’s not this thing about him having a big name or costing £50million.
“It’s a case of, ‘Are you looking good enough in training? Fine, I’ll play you.’
“I don’t think Billy will get this chance then get thrown back into obscurity. He has a battle with Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and there’s Callum HudsonOdoi coming back. But Billy is up there to be reckoned with along with the rest of them now he has taken that chance.
“Jody Morris was very like Billy as a player – small, brilliant technically, utterly confident on the ball. So Billy is learning from two of the best technicians in his area.
“The crowd as well are amazing. I can tell you this from my time, Chelsea fans will applaud every pass and get behind everything a young player does because they will very quickly take you as one of their own.
“It’s special. If anyone was listening to the Liverpool match then every time Billy touched the ball the crowd applauded.
“I played five years at Chelsea and can never remember a moment they complained about me. And I made plenty of mistakes!
“If you’re one of theirs they will absolutely take you to their hearts.
“When you look at who the favourite players at Chelsea are down the years you talk about Lamps and Didier Drogba but there is another group – Charlie Cooke, Gianfranco Zola, Eden Hazard… a few are kind enough to mention me.
“These are small, technical players and the fans absolutely love them. I’ve had about eight or nine texts since the Liverpool game saying ‘Billy reminds me of somebody…’
“But I’m sure he can go on to greater things.”
ALAN SHEARER Gilmour has bossed it. He’s done whatever he’s been asked to do, whether it’s collecting the ball and passing it forward, protecting that back four, spraying the ball around, he’s been absolutely magnificent.
He passed it forward – that was his first thought. Jorginho is suspended for the next couple of games, so he’s put in a performance that’s said: “You have to keep me in this team.”
Everything he has done has been spot on. He is so confident, to have that belief in his ability.
JERMAINE JENAS Gilmour has looked like he is having a kickabout in the park with his mates. That is the biggest compliment I can give him.
I have been so impressed by this young lad. He’s had such a calm head and he’s not given the ball away all night. It’s been a brilliant evening for him.
‘I don’t think much of Rangers’ talent spotters but Gilmour is best player to have come through at Ibrox since Barry Ferguson’
ROSS BARKLEY Billy was ready for his chance against Liverpool and he took it. I see him doing it in training every day, he doesn’t have a day when he is struggling. For a young lad he is really mature with his ability on the ball, he makes the right decision most of the time. He is similar to Jorginho. He is a quality player.