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Billy Gilmour was “unquestionably ahead” of his peers when he went to the Toulon Tournament as a 16-year-old with Scotland.
That’s the view of the national side’s under-21 boss, Scot Gemmill.
It was Scot, son of 1979 World Cup hero Archie, who made the call to bring Gilmour along to the 2018 tournament – despite some players being five or six years his senior.
Gemmill however insists the ex-Rangers youth ace, now on loan at Norwich from Chelsea, was already streets in front of those around him in every aspect but his physicality.
He told the Big Interview Podcast with Graham Hunter: “We took him to the Toulon Tournament really ahead of schedule by most people’s standards, but not by his.
“He put himself in that position where it was an easy decision to take him.
“That was a big thing for him to go and play at that level, ahead of schedule.
“What he did was confirm his talent at that tournament. And that’s what a player needs to do.
“Physically he was possibly at a disadvantage but his speed of thought and his brain and his mentality were unquestionably ahead, there’s no comparison in that regard.
“His belief and his ambition is to become one of the best players if not the best player in the world, he will tell you that himself.”
Gilmour would go on to win rave reviews at the Euros for Steve Clarke’s men – despite only playing in one game, against England.
He picked up the Revelation of the Tournament award but Gemill believes the experience in southern France was huge for Gilmour’s development.
Gemmill said: “You want to see that he can handle it. You want to see that he doesn’t get too high when he does well, which he didn’t.
“It was also to give him the experience of tournament football and I think Billy, who just had a successful showing at the Euros in the summer there, and he used Toulon as a reference there.”
Former Nottingham Forest and Scotland ace Gemmill, 50, has been in charge of the under-21s since 2016.
And he revealed how a harsh sending off for descent turned into a big learning experience for the youngster.
“It made a difference (Billy not playing).
“I think he was harshly red-carded. He did swear but he didn’t swear directly at the referee, he was frustrated with himself.
“But you speak about size, he was being physical and trying to be strong against a bigger opponent and he was the one who was dominating a bigger opponent because he had the right mentality.
“The referee gave a free-kick against him and he swore but it was in frustration at himself, not directly at the referee.”
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