I’LL BE LOAN SHARK LIKE MY CHELSEA PALS
Gilmour has career pathway all set out
Billy Gilmour got a glimpse of his future as England’s Under-21s over-ran Scotland – and he liked what he saw.
Three of the teenager’s Chelsea team-mates were in a powerhouse side that romped to a 2- 0 win at Tynecastle.
They are now out on loan from the Blues and accumulating big- time minutes in England’s Championship and Holland’s Eredivisie.
That has made the 17-year-old’s vision for his own pathway as clear as day.
Gilmour said: “You see all the boys going out on loan at Chelsea and how much it’s benefiting them.
“Jake Clarke-Salter and Fikayo Tomori are out just now at Vitesse Arnhem in Holland and at Derby County.
“Tammy Abraham is at Aston Villa and Mason Mount is another at Derby and he has just been called into the full England squad.
“They’re all going out and doing their thing, whether it’s scoring or keeping clean sheets, and it’s working for them.
“I played Under-18s last year to settle in. Now I’ve moved up to Under-23 and will try to kick on. I’ll take it bit by bit.”
Gilmour made the decision to uproot from Rangers aged 15 when Chelsea came chasing him.
Scotland Under-21 manager Scot Gemmill insists the kid has what it takes to make his dreams a reality.
Gemmill said: “I’m 100 per cent sure there is a plan in place for Billy.
“Chelsea have a real strategy with players. We all know how difficult it is to get into that first team so there will definitely be a plan.
“And I detect in him a young guy who knows what he wants.
“If and when that loan happens Billy gives me the impression that he will have a huge influence on the choice of club because he knows what he wants.
“He is clever and willing enough to make it happen.
“To be so young but have that clear vision, to plan and recognise the hurdles in front of him, shows how driven and intelligent he is.
“He is handling the situation extremely well, showing maturity. He has good people around him and is at a good club who are experienced in developing young players.
“There is no one way that is correct for everybody. The younger players are more accepting of that.
“They look at players slightly older than them and see what went well, what didn’t and adjust accordingly. They’re correct to do that.”
Tuesday night’s experience should tell a few of Scotland’s hopefuls that they have a long way to go.
England’s athleticism, pace, strength and technique made Scotland look a distant second best.
Hoffenheim kid Reiss Nelson put England ahead on the hour but an