Billy Gilmour proves why Thomas Tuchel agrees with Frank Lampard prediction

There were more than a few Chelsea heroes as they came from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad.

In what served as a dress rehearsal for this month's Champions League final, a stoppage-time Marcos Alonso strike handed the Blues all three points.

But after Billy Gilmour was adjudged to have fouled Gabriel Jesus in the box, it looked as if City were on course for a fairly routine evening's work.

However, Sergio Aguero's desperate chip was saved by Edouard Mendy and set the platform for Chelsea - and Gilmour in particular - to bounce back after the break.

In the second-half, Gilmour looked completely at home against one of the best midfields in European football.

Still just 19, there are extremely high hopes for the Scotland international, with both his current and former manager seeing him as an integral part of Chelsea's future.

Frank Lampard, like he did with many other academy graduates, handed Gilmour his first-team chance and was instantly impressed with what he saw.

"I'm delighted to have Billy ready to go. He is going to be a huge player for this club," Lampard said back in January.

"He's young and, like all the youth I talk about in the squad, we need to give him time, but his talent is huge and I'm really happy with where he is.

"Billy is pushing and has been pushing since he made his breakthrough last season against top-level opposition, Liverpool.

"He played brilliantly then, got man of the match and reproduced that against Everton, but then his injury came pretty soon after that. From those moments - and even before - I knew Billy would be a very, very good player for this club."

And Thomas Tuchel has made a similar assessment, with the midfielder playing the full 90 minutes in the last two Premier League fixtures.

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"He's a confident guy, he's well aware of his qualities, which is good," Tuchel said after the win over Fulham.

"It was not necessary for him to convince me today because I'm already convinced, otherwise I would not have picked him for the line-up.

"So it was necessary that he plays his part, that he helps the team, and this is what he did. I'm happy for him."

Chelsea have now won all four Premier League games that Gilmour has started this season and with every passing week, the Blues' lucky charm looks more destined to live up to Lampard's lofty praise.

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