Chelsea teenager Billy Gilmour vows not to be a ‘passenger’ in Frank Lampard’s side

Eighteen-year-old impressed as he started in two Blues wins last week

Teenage midfielder Billy Gilmour has said he is determined to prove he is not just along for the ride at Chelsea.

The 18-year-old Scot has won two man-of-the-match awards in the space of a week, dominating both the 2-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool and the 4-0 thumping of Everton.

Gilmour set the tone for Chelsea’s rout of the Toffees on Sunday in his first Premier League start, and later insisted he is only just getting started.

“It’s a bit surreal still, coming on and playing with top players,” said Gilmour.

“But this is something I’ve been dreaming of, and when I go out there I need to show that I’m not just a passenger, I need to be there and do something different to keep my position in the team.

“But the boys have been brilliant with me, Toni Rudiger has been brilliant with me, Azpi [Cesar Azpilicueta] has been brilliant, they are always talking all the time and giving me loads of confidence in training and games.

“That’s something you always need as a young player, that confidence. If you don’t have that confidence you’re not going to play well, you’re going to be a bit under pressure, be a bit naive.

“But I loved it and the first-team boys do really well with the youngsters.”

Frank Lampard has now handed out a club-record eight debuts to academy products at Stamford Bridge this season.

Striker Armando Broja’s late cameo off the bench against Everton meant Lampard surpassed the seven debuts dished out by Ted Drake in the 1956-57 season.

Tino Anjorin was another youngster to feature against Everton and the winger is among that record eight-strong contingent.

Mason Mount, Reece James, Marc Guehi, Tariq Lamptey and Ian Maatsen are the others to enjoy first-team debuts under Lampard, while Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori have established themselves as first-team regulars.​

PA