Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has told Chelsea’s backroom team to let Billy Gilmour play his own game so he can continue to flourish in the first team.

Reflecting on his own development under the legendary Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest, Keane said it is best to give young players only limited advice so that they can play on instinct out on the pitch:

“I suppose the advice – not that I would give him, but the people around him – is leave him alone. Leave him just to get on with it. Sometimes you get surrounded by some of the wrong people. Sometimes some of the coaching staff at the club can try and give him too much information.”

“I remember working with Brian Clough when I was coming through as a young player, they almost just left me alone, just learn your trade, keep going. Give snippets of information, but don’t give too much information because he looks a clever kid, he looks intelligent.”

Gilmour’s man of the match performance against Everton on Sunday has certainly got the football world talking, but it is important that the Scottish Under 21 international keeps his feet on the ground.

As Keane mentions, there will be pitfalls ahead for the teenager, especially as he has only played seven games at senior level, but the midfielder has certainly shown he has the skill and composure to play in the holding midfield role.

Manager Frank Lampard even compared Gilmour to Jorginho in terms of how brave the Scot is in possession of the ball, and with the Italian suspended for the games against Aston Villa and Bayern Munich, the youngster is poised to keep his place in the starting eleven.