Chelsea youngster Billy Gilmour has revealed who his footballing idols were growing up.
The 18-year-old was superb in his side’s FA Cup win over Liverpool, and then followed it up with his first Premier League start when he impressed against Everton.
Gilmour joined the Blues from Rangers as a 16-year-old and has been part of the first team squad for the majority of the campaign.
The Scotland U21 international is now expected to play a big part of the team for the rest of the season when it starts up again after the recent suspension.
And speaking on The Football Show on Sky Sports on Monday night, opened up on the footballing stars he admired growing up.
"When I was young, I was watching Ronaldo and Messi like everyone did, but when I started to analyse my game and see who I’d hope to be like, it was more like Iniesta, Xavi, Fabregas, those type of players," he said.
"It was something I loved watching, passing the ball, receiving the ball, they were sharp.
"When you watch Barcelona, you watch Busquets and everything happens around him, but when you watch the game you don’t really see him but that is the kind of player that I always looked up to, getting on the ball, passing and making things happen."
Injuries and suspensions afforded Gilmour a chance in the first-team prior to the season being paused, something which he didn't expect to happen as he thought a loan deal was more likely.
"Around Christmas time, I was thinking that I might go out on loan for the rest of the season but got told to stay and got moved into the first team building,” Gilmour told the Chelsea official website.
"The gaffer and Jody spoke to me and said they thought it was best for me to stay, play games with the under-23s and train with the first team a lot more.
"I was happy with that, especially the chance to get more opportunities to train with the first team and express myself and show them what I’m about."
