90min
Back-to-back starts. Back-to-back Man of the Match awards. Life under Dean Smith has started brightly for Norwich and Billy Gilmour has provided the foundation.
The Scot’s omission under Daniel Farke became a stick to beat the German with as his reign at Carrow Road approached its conclusion. It’s very rare that a side widely tipped for relegation at the beginning of the season boast a talent like Gilmour, on loan from Chelsea until the summer, in their ranks. To overlook his qualities was head-scratching.
“When you have a player of that talent on loan, you want to get the best out of him,” Dean Smith responded when he was quizzed about Gilmour’s status at the club following his appointment. “We want to utilise the strengths he has. Billy will be very vital to staying up.”
Smith was true to his word. While under Farke those with a vested interest in the midfielder would think twice about reading the Norwich team-sheet, Smith has made him the first name on it.
It was immediately apparent what he brings to this Norwich side in the opening exchanges of their goalless draw with Wolves. The Scot’s vision is exceptional, which allows him to punch passes into the forward line with just the correct weight for attackers to take the ball in their stride…
