John Giles believes that Chelsea youngster Billy Gilmour is the best midfielder that he has seen for a long time.

Giles was speaking to Off The Ball's Football Show after Chelsea beat Liverpool in the FA Cup to reach a quarter-final with Leicester City.

It was Gilmour, the 18 year-old Scottish midfielder, who Giles believes to be a class above.

"I was very impressed with him. He is the best midfield player I have seen in a long time.

"In terms of a midfield player doing the traditional job - you couldn't earmark him as an attacking midfielder or a holding midfielder - he was just a midfield player.

"He got forward at the right time and he got back at the right time.

"We saw the experienced players on the pitch - Jorginho came on, Fabinho for Liverpool - and in my opinion he was better than either of them."

It is his ability to take on responsibility that sets Gilmour apart.

"He is like all good players, although he is very young. He said that he was looking forward to getting on the pitch to show what he could do.

"What I find with midfield players now is that the first decision seems to be to knock it square or back. Very few midfield players go past players.

"It really opens up the game [...] this is what this kid did.

"I haven't seen that for a long time since the old days. Xavi could do it, Souness could do it, Scholes could do it, Modric can still do it and Vieira could do it.

"Gascoigne could do it in his day, albeit for not very long."

Gilmour praise

Giles is aware of the company that he is putting Gilmour beside.

"He is the best that I have seen doing it so far, and I am including the experienced players as well.

"If the midfield player gets the ball, if there is a 50-50 chance of turning back, they go back the easy way. It has become fashionable in the game.

"Gascoigne, Vieira and Pirlo were just midfield players."

Giles' praise did not end there.

"Lampard put him in the team and left Jorginho out. You could tell that he is encouraging him to [go past players.]

"Lampard hasn't been there that long, but he put him in there and this was a match they needed to win."

Giles believes that he might be in line for a start this weekend.

"It was a huge match the other night, so it wasn't like he was just giving him a go.

"He might not put him in for the weekend, but I wouldn't be surprised if he did play him.

"He would be able for it, the kid."

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