After starting four of Norwich's first five Premier League games, Gilmour hasn't played for the Canaries in the following five league fixtures; manager Thomas Tuchel also offered advice to Callum Hudson-Odoi, who requested a move away in the summer amid concerns over playing time
Monday 1 November 2021 22:56, UK
Thomas Tuchel has confirmed Chelsea could cut short Billy Gilmour's loan spell at Norwich, but has urged the midfielder to embrace the challenge of earning more playing time at Carrow Road.
Norwich overcame competition from several Premier League sides to sign Gilmour in July on a season-long loan, but the 20-year-old Scotland international has fallen out of favour under manager Daniel Farke, who said last month that Norwich are not "here to develop players for other clubs".
After starting four of Norwich's first five Premier League games this season, Gilmour hasn't played for the Canaries in the following five league fixtures, with his most recent appearance coming in September's Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool.
Tuchel admits that Gilmour's loan is not going as his parent club had hoped, but is adamant there is plenty of time to turn the situation around.
"I spoke to Daniel (Farke) and Billy (Gilmour) about the situation and we will make the decision in January," Thomas Tuchel said.
"He left looking for more minutes and game time at another club and the challenge is for him to fight his way through.
"Things are not going as well as he perhaps hoped but it's not the moment to cancel the whole project or open talks to bring him back.
"Sometimes these weeks and months arrive when the situation doesn't seem to be going the right way - you just have to hang in there and show your quality and make sure you help your team, no matter how.
"That sharpens the character and I am sure it will be a big chapter in Billy's career.
"It is only the start of November and there are still months to go and a lot of time to prove he has enough quality to help Norwich be a better team."
Tuchel also offered advice to Chelsea midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi, who remained at the club over the summer despite requesting a move amid concerns over playing time.
The 20-year-old was used sparsely over the opening weeks of the season, but a series of injuries in forward positions have seen him start three of the Blues last four Premier League games, all of which have resulted in victories.
With Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Mason Mount all still unavailable, Hudson-Odoi's run in the starting XI could continue, with the Premier League leaders set to take on Burnley on Saturday at Stamford Bridge ahead of the international break.
On Hudson-Odoi, Tuchel said: "We didn't let him leave because we are building a squad and Callum (Hudson-Odoi) is a piece in that puzzle.
"He thought it might be a bit easier to get minutes at another club but I told him straight that we rely on him, he accepted his role within the team.
"There is huge progress he can make within this group and within this club but he had a very good pre-season, struggled a bit at the beginning of the season to prove himself but now has shown up and delivered.
"To get a place in this team it is all about performance and this is what Callum is showing at the moment and it is important he continues to be consistent, stays hungry and keeps progressing."
Ben Chilwell believes Chelsea are thriving due to an absence of egos and insists he never questioned his own abilities during a frustrating start to the season.
England defender Chilwell did not play a minute of his country's run to the Euro 2020 final in the summer and was subsequently overlooked for his club's opening six Premier League games.
The 24-year-old, who was initially kept out of the Blues' starting XI by Marcos Alonso, is back in favour at Stamford Bridge and has seized his chance by netting three times in four top-flight outings, in addition to a maiden international goal last month.
"It is obviously frustrating because as a footballer you want to be playing week in, week out," he said of the early weeks of the campaign.
"When you've got a squad like we do here at Chelsea, with 20, 25 world-class players and two or three fighting in every position, you've got to understand you're not going to play every match and just to support the group.
"(There were) no doubts at all (during that period). As a footballer you have to have confidence in your own ability.
"I was just keen that I would train hard every day so that when I did get my opportunity I'd give my manager a headache and that's all I could do really.
"When you come off the back of a Euros in your home country, of course everyone's going to be disappointed when they don't play in that.
"But coming back to Chelsea, I felt I was in a good place to help the team but of course Marcos started the season very well, was here for the whole of pre-season and had a great start to the season. I knew I had to be patient and bide my time.
"And I think that's a sign of the fact we've got such a strong group that's doing well at the moment because there are no egos in this squad; there is a group of players that want to work hard for the manager, work hard for the club and for each other and whoever gets their opportunity they're ready."
