Chelsea will not send Billy Gilmour out on loan when the January transfer window opens, according to reports in the English media.

The Scotland Under 21 international returned to fitness last month after recovering from a knee injury, but he has played just three games, with just one start coming in the Champions League group stage dead rubber against FC Krasnodar.

Despite being an unused substitute in Chelsea’s last three league matches, manager Frank Lampard sees Gilmour as an important first-team player, being able to play as a defensive midfielder or in a more advanced role in the middle of the park.

After the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal on Boxing Day, it will be interesting to see whether Lampard now hands Gilmour his first league start of the season when the Blues face Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge this evening.

Considering Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic haven’t really impressed in recent matches, you would have thought that the 19-year-old has a decent chance of starting.