Billy
Gilmour has vowed to prove he is not just along for the ride at Chelsea.
The 18-year-old has won two man-of-the-match awards in the space of a week,
dominating both the 2-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool and the 4-0 thumping of
Everton.
Gilmour set the tone for Chelsea's rout of the Toffees on Sunday in his
first Premier League start, and later insisted he is only just getting
started.
"It's a bit surreal still, coming on and playing with top players," said
Gilmour.
"But this is something I've been dreaming of, and when I go out there I need
to show that I'm not just a passenger, I need to be there and do something
different to keep my position in the team.
"But the boys have been brilliant with me, Toni Rudiger has been brilliant
with me, Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta) has been brilliant, they are always
talking all the time and giving me loads of confidence in training and
games.
"That's something you always need as a young player, that confidence. If you
don't have that confidence you're not going to play well, you're going to be
a bit under pressure, be a bit naive.
"But I loved it and the first-team boys do really well with the youngsters."
Frank Lampard has now handed out a club-record eight debuts to academy
products at Stamford Bridge this season.
Striker Armando Broja's late cameo off the bench against Everton meant
Lampard surpassed the seven debuts dished out by Ted Drake in the 1956-57
season.
Tino Anjorin was another young buck to feature against Everton and the
winger is among that record eight-strong contingent.
Mason Mount, Reece James, Marc Guehi, Tariq Lamptey and Ian Maatsen are the
others to enjoy first-team debuts under Lampard, while Tammy Abraham and
Fikayo Tomori have established themselves as first-team regulars.
Ex-Rangers youth star Gilmour acknowledges the trust of Lampard and his
coaching staff is helping usher the young talent through the Stamford Bridge
ranks.
"I talk about trust all the time from the gaffer, and that just shows how
much trust he has in the youth players when they come down to train and you
can take your opportunities," Gilmour told Chelsea's official club website.
"And you've seen when they came on they've done well. Overall it was a good
performance and a great result for Chelsea.
"The gaffer, Jody (Morris, assistant head coach) and Joe Edwards (assistant
coach) are all brilliant with me.
"I've had Joe and Jody through the youth, so they know a lot about me if I'm
having a good or a bad day. So there's always loads of comments and telling
me what to do.
"They've been there and done it, and done everything, so when you're going
out to play that's a real confidence as well, knowing they have that trust
in you to go and play that style of play, get on the ball and do what you're
good at."
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