Billy Gilmour Sparkles on First Premier League Start & He Could Hold Key to Top Four Finish

​Riddled with injuries and suspensions, bereft of confidence and with just the solitary Premier League win in their last six matches, Chelsea were in desperate need of, well, something.

Their place in the top four remained in tact ahead of kick off, mostly in part to the failings of all the other sides in and around them.

However, keeping up such form would almost certainly result in an eventual departure from the Champions League spots. While securing a coveted top four place has never been an easier task than this season, such worrying performances and results had their season looking in serious danger of fizzling out.

So with all seemingly going against them at such a crucial stage of the campaign, who would have thought the introduction of an 18-year-old Glaswegian would have such a profound effect Frank Lampard's side's displays?

There is no doubting that Billy Gilmour is a talent in the making. That much is clear. But to come into a side with obvious flaws and deficiencies at such a pivotal stage of the season, and to excel as he has, naturally draws widespread praise.

Two substitutes appearances for the Scot near the start of the season saw Lampard initially draw criticism. 

'He's too young' and 'don't throw him in at the deep end', were a couple of the calls from sections of the fanbase, but this time around his hand has been forced. And, in all honesty, he and the ​Chelsea supporters will be glad it did.

An utterly mesmerising outing against ​Liverpool in the club's 2-0 FA Cup win was vintage in every aspect. Gilmour ran the show at Stamford Bridge; his ball control, vision, technical ability and courage were exhibited in full force, and not a soul in the European champions' side could touch him.

As magnificent as he was, though, often times this can be detrimental. Setting the bar so high, any drop off in form can be seen as a step down. It shouldn't be - he's a kid after all - but in such a cruel industry it's just as easy to get caught up in the hype as it is to jump on the bandwagon and dish out criticism.

Which is why a return to the starling lineup for the home visit of ​Everton would be a true indicator of how mature this youngster is. Could he maintain such astronomically high standards for a prolonged period of time, or was his showing in the FA Cup a mere flash in the pan?

Unequivocally, it was the former.

Granted, this wasn't quite the controlling performance he put out not one week ago, but his class shone throughout in west London. And, besides, his outing against the Reds is a pedestal few players will reach this season. He was that good.

Operating in a deeper role on Sunday, with Mason Mount further forward and Ross Barkley to his side, he boasted ridiculous levels of composure in possession once more. Rarely is such levels of calmness seen in a player of his age, moreover, one making his first ​Premier League start.

Whether it's playing the simple pass to a teammate, or making a sudden burst beyond his marker to free up space ahead of him, he does it all with consummate ease.

He controlled the game from his position in the Jorginho slot and - in an attempt to quell the hype - did so just as well. Nah, scratch that. He did it better. 

Sure, it's best not to discount how excellent Jorginho can, and has, been this season. Because that would be wholly unjust. But Gilmour did all the aspects of the Italian's game just as well, only with less sideways passes.

Almost every ball he played was forward with attacking at the forefront of his thinking, acting as the anchor from which Chelsea could begin their patterns of play in the final third. Good lord this lad is composed. 

That isn't to say he didn't try his hand further forward, mind. His reading of the game is exemplary, therefore it allows him to make the runs in between the centre-half and full-back without fear of being caught out of position should his side lose the ball.

In all honesty, I could wax lyrical about Gilmour for sufficiently long enough that you'd be convinced he's actually Andres Iniesta in costume. That he isn't. But as is custom with emerging young talents, such similarities have already been drawn.

It seems mad to say, but this young Glasgow lad may just be the difference between Chelsea earning a ​Champions League berth this season or falling short. Yes, I know that's crazy. But trust me, believe the hype.

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