Chelsea: Billy Gilmour should start against Aston Villa

It’s easy to forget Billy Gilmour’s incredible run of form for Chelsea before the break due to an extended time without football. But, he needs to start upon its return.

A break in the action gave Chelsea some much needed time off. The Blues were able to get healthy, rest their bodies and game plan for the remainder of the season. However, there are some negatives that go along with the Coronavirus stoppage. One of those being a loss of momentum for Billy Gilmour.

The 18-year-old’s Man of the Match performances seem like ages ago. However, with the Premier League returning on June 17, it’s time to start remembering those hot streaks when thinking about the first post-Coronavirus break starting XI. Gilmour deserves a start against Aston Villa for his fantastic performances in the past few matches.

There are a couple of reasons as to why the Blues should trot out Gilmour against Aston Villa, with the first being he makes the team better. In the two matches prior to the break, Gilmour won Man of the Match against Liverpool and Everton—two of England’s biggest clubs. More importantly, he controlled the pace of play, bossed the midfield and led the Blues to two massive victories.

Gilmour’s maturity is remarkable. He’s composed under pressure and adept enough to slot into open space, creating opportunities for his teammates. He can pick out unique passes and make darting runs at defenders, making things look effortless. He’s still got a lot of physical growth to undergo, but his football mind is one of the sharpest in the squad. For those reasons, Gilmour adds another dimension to the Chelsea starting XI and makes the overall squad better.

Another reason Gilmour should be considered for the match day XI when the Premier League resumes is Jorginho’s suspension. Chelsea’s vice-captain picked up a suspension due to yellow card accumulation and has one match remaining. He will be absent against Aston Vila, freeing up an open spot for a few different players to fight for.

Assuming Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount are starting, Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Gilmour are the three players trying to secure the final spot in the midfield three. This is also assuming N’Golo Kante remains out of the squad as a safety precaution. Loftus-Cheek won’t get a nod due to the fact he hasn’t played in a year, but is a candidate to come off the bench.

That leaves Frank Lampard two choices: Barkley and Gilmour. Despite Barkley’s good run of form before the break, he doesn’t offer as much as Gilmour. Gilmour is capable of playing each midfield position and has a multidimensional style of play. To put it simply, he brings more to the table than Barkley. It is worth noting, however, that when on the pitch at the same time, Gilmour and Barkley wreak havoc on opposing midfields. With five substitutes allowed for the remainder of the season, expect to see these two paired together in quite a few games.

If Lampard didn’t trust Gilmour in positions like this, he would not have brought the Scot up from the academy full-time. The 18-year-old is not a part of the first team to sit idly by while the big boys play; he’s one of them now and he’s here to prove it.