GRANT BACKS GILMOUR TO COME BACK STRONGER

GRANT HANLEY has backed Billy Gilmour to emerge a stronger player after experiencing his miserable season at Norwich City.

Loaned out by Chelsea immediately after his involvement with Scotland at last summer’s Euros, Gilmour struggled for game time under Norwich’s then manager Daniel Farke during the early weeks and months of the season.

Farke’s replacement Dean Smith was more disposed to selecting the midfielder but one fundamental issue remained — the team’s struggle to exert any control over possession

Despite his club problems, Gilmour emerged as an integral figure as Scotland put together the six-game winning run that secured Wednesday’s World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine. A Scotland teammate and also his captain at club level, Hanley has spent a year observing the 20-year-old at close quarters.

He does not expect Norwich’s ultimate relegation to adversely affect Gilmour’s career trajectory.

He said: ‘It’s clear to see Billy is, and is going to be, a top player.

‘He was involved in a team that got relegated, so naturally he will be disappointed. But in football, if you have a setback or go through a tough period, you learn from that.

‘Billy will come back a better player. There is no doubt in my mind he will be a top player. You see that in his performances.’

A member of Chelsea’s Champions League-winning squad in season 2020-21 and an established midfield playmaker who dovetails superbly with Callum McGregor in the Scotland midfield, Gilmour was not universally loved by Norwich fans.

During one Premier League match against Crystal Palace a chant went up imploring him to ‘ **** off back to Chelsea’.

Hanley claims to be oblivious to the strength of feeling aimed towards his international team-mate, saying: ‘I never realised any of that stuff was going on. Billy is mature enough not to look at that sort of stuff either.

‘All I can say Billy is a top player and has some career ahead of him.’