Inside the rise of Chelsea and Scotland's 'new Modric' Billy Gilmour

Having made his first-team debut at Stamford Bridge in August, the 18-year-old is being tipped for further chances under Frank Lampard this season

With Chelsea coming under increasing pressure to hold out for victory against Sheffield United in their last Premier League outing, it was telling that the player Frank Lampard elected to bring off his bench was an 18-year-old with no prior first-team experience.

Given the fight that the club put up to sign Gilmour, though, it is hardly surprising that he is being given every opportunity to state his claim for regular minutes.

James Grady coached Gilmour from the age of 12 as part of the programme and it was there that the youngster's unique ability first came to light.

"He knows he doesn’t need to beat five players to look good," Grady told Goal. "Billy understood it was better to be good than look good at a very early age.

"I describe him as a Modric-type player. He isn’t very big but he is technically as good as anyone with both feet. He has a tenacious side, he won’t overcomplicate things. He can dribble when he has to, he sees passes and he will get it and keep it until he can find a better pass.

"The biggest talent that he has got is that drive and real hunger to be the best. I have worked in football since I was 20 years old. I am 48 now. He is the role model I would still use if you want to get anywhere in football. He is hard-working, nothing is going to stop him.

"He came back to the school after he signed for Chelsea. He did a Q&A and one kid asked him, ‘How was the jump from Rangers to Chelsea?’

He said, 'At Rangers, my mindset was I wanted to be the best at my team and club. I want to be the best here. I went to Chelsea, I am now in an environment at Chelsea where I need to try to be the best in the world. Not the best in the club because Chelsea can sign the best young players from all over the world.'"

"As a fellow midfielder, I look up to Cesc Fabregas," the teenager told Chelsea TV in December 2017. "I have been analysing him and putting the things from his game into my game, so overall I can make myself much better as a midfielder."

Gilmour's current contract expires in 2021, and it is understood Chelsea will likely move to renew it in the coming months as his profile begins to grow.

For now, to make it in the game at the top level you need an element of luck. Given everything going on around the club, this may be the best time in 15 years to be an 18-year-old midfielder hopeful of first-team chances at Chelsea.