---
title: "Danny Drinkwater And Billy Gilmour Feature for Blues’ under-21s in EFL Trophy"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2020/11/19/drinkwater-gilmour-feature-chelsea-u21-bristol-rovers-efl-trophy/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2020-11-19T14:00:29Z"
modified: "2020-11-19T14:00:29Z"
---

# Danny Drinkwater And Billy Gilmour Feature for Blues’ under-21s in EFL Trophy

Chelsea midfielders [Danny Drinkwater](https://readchelsea.com/2019/08/04/brighton-eyeing-season-long-loan-move-for-drinkwater/) and [Billy Gilmour](https://readchelsea.com/2020/11/06/billy-gilmour-chelsea-loan-lampard-surprise/) were both in action for the Blues’ under-21 team last night.

The duo, at somewhat different stages in their careers, started as a midfield partnership for Andy Myers’ side as the youngsters [lost 4-3 to Bristol Rovers](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/11/18/efl-trophy-report--bristol-rovers-chelsea) in the EFL Trophy.

Drinkwater played all 90 minutes as the 30-year-old continues his search for match fitness. The Premier League winner with Leicester [signed for Chelsea](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41119060) on the summer transfer window deadline day in 2017 but has struggled to hold down a regular place at Stamford Bridge, making just[23 first team appearances](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41119060) in three years.

The midfielder, who was [influential alongside N’Golo Kante](https://www.eurosport.com/football/premier-league/2015-2016/leicesters-danny-drinkwater-takes-the-praise-after-role-in-stoke-win_sto5083858/story.shtml) during the Foxes’ 2015/16 title success, was loaned out last season to Aston Villa before the [move was cut short](https://talksport.com/football/757564/chelsea-news-danny-drinkwater-headbutt-jota-aston-villa-google-translate/) following a training ground incident.

Meanwhile, Gilmour continued his recovery from a [serious knee injury suffered towards the end of last season](https://talksport.com/football/730192/billy-gilmour-injury-frank-lampard-chelsea-knee-operation/)and only managed an hour of action at the Memorial Stadium.

The 19-year-old burst onto the scene last season with [back-to-back man of the match performances](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/11953096/billy-gilmour-was-chelseas-man-of-the-match-against-everton) against Liverpool and Everton in early March.

### READ CHELSEA VERDICT

Two contrasting scenarios turning out for the young Blues.

The Drinkwater demise has been there for all to see and with, more than [18 months left on his deal](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/danny-drinkwater/profil/spieler/73491) at Stamford Bridge and no realistic route into Frank Lampard’s first-team plans, nor any [interested parties](https://footballwhispers.com/blog/danny-drinkwater-chelsea-escape/) queuing up for him, it could still be a while before a resolution to his future is found.

However, Gilmour – based on his [sparkling performances last season](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/billy-gilmour-2019-20-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics) – has an incredibly bright future ahead of him and, should he be able to get back to match fitness, could conceivably break into the senior reckoning once more.

The option for the Scottish under-21 international [could be to head out on loan in January](https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18787372.ex-rangers-starlet-billy-gilmour-tipped-loan-move-chelsea-january-horror-knee-injury/) in order to get the game-time his development needs, as given the [plethora of central midfielders](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/4/Chelsea/squad) ahead of him in west London, it could be a struggle to get back into Lampard’s team immediately.