Gilmour is aiming to become a real hair-raiser like his Blues buddy Ampadu

BILLY GILMOUR wants to use Chelsea team-mate Ethan Ampadu as an inspiration for the future as his career continues to progress at Stamford Bridge. The former Rangers midfielder was on Scotland Under-21s duty last week as Scot Gemmill’s side produced a superb 2-1 win in the Netherlands. Scotland still have a chance of reaching the Euro finals in Italy and San Marino next year for the first time since 1996, with two games left in the group against Ukraine and England. Gilmour (left) plays alongside the latest Welsh sensation Ampadu (right), who starred in their recent win against the Republic of Ireland and who made his international debut as a 16-year-old.

And the 17-year-old is desperate to follow in hirsute stopper Ampadu’s footsteps after continuing to learn from the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Jorginho.

He said: ‘Ethan and me joined at the same time, I get on well with him. We go out some nights and go for food.

‘He’s a good boy and he’s done really well for himself. He’s a top defender.

‘When I see him and Callum Hudson-Odoi get their chances (at Chelsea) it gives you hope because we are similar ages.

‘I will work really hard to try and do that too. When Ethan went into the first team, he did really well and kept his standards high. It’s a case of just trying to work hard.

‘But I don’t think I will be getting my hair like him — I think he should get it cut. When we go out people call him David Luiz. He does get a couple of shouts and he turns round and people realise it’s Ethan. He always gets noticed for his barnet, so he should keep it just for that. But he needs it changed — it’s terrible.

‘I keep in contact with Ethan quite a lot. I texted him after the Ireland game to say well done, although I think he gave away the penalty against Denmark so I will give him stick for that.

‘As for inspiration, when you see Cesc Fabregas play he is unbelievable, but Jorginho has come in and he’s different class, he doesn’t lose the ball.

‘A lot of our players just watch him and, when you look at his stats, he just doesn’t lose the ball. He’s a good player.

‘I’d play anywhere in midfielder, I like box-to-box too but I do like being a sitting midfielder and trying to control the game — and that’s something Jorginho has done very well.’

Gilmour became the youngestever scorer for the Under-21s when he netted in the Toulon Tournament in the summer.

And he made such an impact that he was also named as the Revelation of the Tournament as the young Scots reached the semi-final.

Gilmour admitted the France event made him decide to make the step-up to Under-23s football.

He said: ‘I think it prepared me quite a lot. I watched the first game against Togo and

then I got called upon to start against France, which was a bit of a shock. I thought I would have maybe just come on or something. I was the smallest on the pitch, but I had the technicality with my feet and I felt I could play.

‘After the tournament that was my mindset. I wasn’t sure if I was going to go 18s or 23s but that made up my mind. I thought I was able to handle a 21s tournament, so I decided I wanted to push on and play with the 23s.

‘It’s a tough squad with great players in it. I started all the games apart from the first one, so it was good.

And Gilmour even has another string to his bow after revealing he’s continuing his modelling career.

He explained: ‘I did that before I left Rangers with Burberry.

‘I decided to go for it. It’s something different and it keeps your mind off football for a bit, too.

‘My dad got a call from an agent saying they were looking for someone to model. My dad laughed at me! So we were just kind of laughing for a bit and then I decided I would give it a go.’