‘Real talent’ - Ex- Chelsea player and coach reveals admiration for former Blues academy star

Joe Cole has described Billy Gilmour ‘a real talent’ as the former Chelsea youngster continues to shine for club and country.

The former Rangers academy product moved to West London during the summer of 2017 and had to wait just over two years to make his debut when he replaced Tammy Abraham during the closing stages of a Premier League home clash with Sheffield United.

A first senior start came in a Carabao Cup win against Grimsby Town just a month later and Gilmour had racked up 11 appearances by the time the 2019/20 season came to a close. The talented midfielder made the same number of appearances during the following campaign but his progress was limited as he fell out of favour when Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge.

Gilmour endured a somewhat underwhelming season-long loan with Norwich City during the 2021/22 season before joining Brighton and Hove Albion last summer. The 22-year-old has taken to life on the south coast as he gradually found his way into the Roberto Di Zerbi’s side and helped the Seagulls qualify for Europe for the first time with a sixth placed finish in last season’s Premier League.

Gilmour has started three of Brighton’s first four fixtures this season and has also started Scotland’s last three fixtures and took his tally of caps to 20 when he featured in Tuesday night’s 3-1 defeat against England.

Cole discussed Gilmour’s career so far during Channel Four’s coverage of the game and revealed why he felt the move to Brighton was so important.

He said: “I coached him (Gilmour) a few times at Chelsea and one thing that stood out about him was his attitude.

“He would stay behind after training, he was so diligent in everything he did. That was 2017, that was a long time ago and his career sort of stalled and he hit a brick wall at Chelsea. He went to Brighton, he didn’t quite settle but this year he is showing the quality. I have always been a massive admirer. I think he plays in that deeper position, where he played that night (against England at Euro 2020) and I think Gareth is worried about that area of the pitch and that’s why we are seeing Kalvin Phillips.

“You can’t let Billy Gilmour get into a rhythm and dictate because he’s a real talent technically.”