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March 3, 2020. Chelsea are facing Liverpool in the FA Cup and Dean Smith is at Stamford Bridge, scouting Aston Villa’s upcoming opponents. He left with a crinkled team sheet in his pocket, the name of the lad wearing the No 47 shirt circled as a potential loan target.
It was Billy Gilmour. ‘He ran the show,’ Smith said, thinking back to the first time he saw the young man he says will be ‘vital’ now if Norwich are to remain a Premier League club.
Against Southampton on Saturday we were treated to a performance of control and class from the 20-year-old Scotland midfielder. On loan at Norwich from Chelsea, Daniel Farke didn’t see his importance and his overlooking of Gilmour was partly why he paid the price with his job. Smith won’t make that mistake, having immediately handed him his first start since September.
Billy Gilmour put in an impressive midfield performance in Norwich's win vs Southampton
Dean Smith has been an admirer of Gilmour since watching him play for Chelsea in 2020
‘He’s a terrific player,’ Smith said. ‘But better than that is his attitude and character. He loves football, and wants to be out there all the time.’
A student of the game, on Friday night Gilmour could be found at Norwich’s training ground watching their