Billy Gilmour has a golden chance to impress Lampard as he returns for Chelsea

It was pleasing to see Billy Gilmour smiling as he fielded questions about being stuck in the house and having to do his own cooking as he went through the long hours of recovery from knee surgery.

Back in March, the possibilities seemed limitless for Gilmour, the tenacious Scottish midfielder who looked poised to become the latest Chelsea academy graduate to crack Frank Lampard's first team.

Outstanding in their FA Cup win over Liverpool and a 4-0 Premier League win over Everton, the teenager was even described by Roy Keane, in a collector's item compliment, as 'world class'.

But just as Gilmour was holding down his place in Chelsea's midfield, an innocuous-looking challenge with Crystal Palace captain Luka Milivojevic in July resulted in a meniscus tear in his right knee.

The first major setback of his career, it required Gilmour to go under the knife and spend four months getting his knee strong enough for the demands of Premier League football once again.

Mental fortitude was never going to be a problem for the boy born in Glasgow, as evidenced in the fact his collision with Milivojevic occurred in the 19th minute but Gilmour soldiered on until the 80th minutes before being replaced.

'Don't be shocked or tricked by the baby face because there is a tough nature to him,' Lampard said after that Palace game.

So it has proved, and offered us that tantalising glimpse of his qualities back in the spring, Gilmour is set to return with a start in Chelsea's final Champions League group game against Krasnodar on Tuesday night.

Sitting alongside Lampard in Monday's press conference, the 19-year-old spoke of recovery during unusual circumstances.

'When I was injured it was tough, during lockdown as well. I was stuck in the house, watching a lot of football, coming into the training ground and doing my work here,' he said.

'I have grown up. During lockdown as well I moved into my own place, so it was a bit difficult. I have to pay the bills and the cooking. My mum has been helping me.'

But top-level football waits for no man, even if they're injured. Gilmour returns to the Chelsea fold with everything to prove all over again.

Lampard wouldn't be drawn on the subject in the player's presence on Monday but Gilmour could be sent out on loan this January in the hope of more game time.

Given the influx of expensive signings at Stamford Bridge in the summer, many expected him to be loaned out then but the injury complicated matters.

Lampard isn't exactly short of players in Gilmour's central midfield position, with N'Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic all above him in the pecking order. Mason Mount and Kai Havertz would naturally play a little further forward but could also cover the position.

And so despite the summer departures of Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the path isn't necessarily any clearer for Gilmour.

'The competition for places in this team, mean it is very hard to get game time,' Gilmour admitted on Monday. 'But I have to show why I should be in the team. Chelsea are a massive team and everyone knows the standards.'

Exactly, but even in a dead rubber match with Chelsea's Champions League progress already assured, Gilmour has an excellent opportunity to remind Lampard of what he can do and not send him out on loan next month.

It will be a gentle re-introduction for Gilmour, who has been eased back in recent weeks with a couple of Under 23 appearances and five minutes off the bench against Sevilla last week.

He'll hope Tuesday night goes a little bit better than his return for Scotland Under 21s last month when he was sent off for what looked like dissent to the referee just nine minutes after coming on against Croatia.

International football provides the other motivation for Gilmour as he returns to the Chelsea side. He hasn't been capped by Scotland at senior level as yet but the incentive of a place in their European Championship squad for next summer is enormous.

The prospect of Gilmour up against Mount as Scotland play England at Wembley in June is a tasty one.

But, first things first and the need for a composed performance against Krasnodar which may unlock further game time in the congested Christmas schedule.

Jorginho, an unused sub in Chelsea's last three Premier League games, would appear to be the obvious target for Gilmour on the current pecking order.

Questions are starting to be asked whether the Italy international, so beloved by Maurizio Sarri, has a place in Lampard's plans and his domestic starts have dwindled even if he has started all five Champions League games so far.

Kovacic and certainly Kante will be harder to displace but any opportunities will be a step forward from the past few months of frustration.

When Gilmour stole the show in that FA Cup game against Liverpool, Keane gushed: 'As the game started I literally got out of my seat, which I very rarely do, and I thought, "Who is this kid?"'

Now Gilmour has a golden chance to get everyone out of their seats once again.