The former Blues midfielder thinks the Scot is in the perfect environment to develop his game and one day achieve his full potential
Billy Gilmour is at the “dream club” to further his development, according to Gus Poyet, who thinks the Chelsea teenager can eventually become an “important part” of the Blues first-team.
Gilmour has taken great strides forward at Chelsea since making his senior debut against Sheffield United in August, proving he is already capable of delivering the goods on the biggest stage.
The 18-year-old has featured in a further six games for the Blues, most notably starring in a 2-0 victory over Liverpool in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
The Scotland international ran the show in midfield against the Reds before producing another standout performance in Chelsea’s 4-0 victory over Everton on March 8, which turned out to be their final outing before the coronavirus stopped play.
Gilmour was an unused substitute as Lampard’s side made a winning return to action after a three-month hiatus against Aston Villa on Sunday, but he is likely to see plenty more minutes as the fixture list piles up in the coming weeks.
Poyet thinks the youngster can learn a great deal from the Chelsea manager and his assistant Morris, with everything in place for him to reach the very highest level as his career progresses.
The ex-Blues midfielder told talkSPORT : “I had the chance to know him the other day through a sponsored thing with Chelsea. He loves the game.
“He’s got people in front of him that he can learn from. There are spectacular midfielders at Chelsea, people who have played at the highest level; players who have won the World Cup in [N’Golo] Kante, and players who have played for Real Madrid in [Mateo] Kovacic.
“So, there are plenty of things he can learn.
“On top of that he’s got a manager who was an outstanding midfielder – okay maybe a bit more offensive – but also an assistant manager who played in exactly the same position in Jody Morris.
“It’s like the dream club for Gilmour right now, because if he really looks around and pays attention and listens, which is what I see him doing, the ability is in him [to go far].
“Depending on how quickly he gets all that, he’s going to be an important part of the club. I’m looking forward to seeing him play in the next few games.
“Obviously he’s fighting for that place with very good players and it’s not like he needs to be in, because the other ones are very well recognised players. But in this period of many games, for sure, he’s going to have a chance.”
Lampard has helped Chelsea rise to fourth in the Premier League this season while promoting a number of academy stars such as Gilmour into senior roles, and Poyet has been impressed with the impact a club legend has had in his first year at the helm.
He said: “I think it was a great decision by the club [to bring in Lampard]. I think Chelsea were very clever in that situation to bring in a coach or manager like Frank Lampard, because it seems different to the previous 20-25 years [in terms] of looking more about bringing the kids [through] rather than buying players.
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“This was a great opportunity for them, with a person in charge who knows the club and who has been working with some of the younger players and with Jody Morris as an assistant, who was coach of these players for many years in the academy.
“On the whole, I think the combination was very good. It’s been tough, because you know it’s going to be difficult.
“I’m sure if he keeps progressing and keeps adding, which Chelsea look like they are doing, I think he’s going to get better and better.”
