HARRY REDKNAPP insists he would have Chelsea starlet Billy Gilmour in the Scotland squad in a heart beat.

The former Tottenham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers boss also thinks Celtic captain Scott Brown, who retired from the national team in February 2018, would have been an ideal ‘bodyguard’ for the diminutive midfielder.

Ex-Rangers trainee Gilmour set the heather on fire south of the border prior to the coronavirus lockdown after being named man of the match against both Liverpool and Everton in his first starts in the FA Cup and Premier League respectively.

Despite being showered with praise by the likes of Blues boss Frank Lampard, who is Redknapp’s nephew, Alan Shearer and Cesc Fabregas, Scotland boss Steve Clarke overlooked the 18-year-old for last month’s postponed Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel.

But Redknapp insists age should not be a barrier to Gilmour being recognised at international level.

He said: “I'd stick him in tomorrow, no danger. 

“Listen, he’s playing against Liverpool and playing against the best teams in the Premier League and I’m not being disrespectful but the chances are whoever Scotland are playing they’re not going to be better than those teams, that’s for sure. 

“The little boy can play, he is just a fantastic footballer and if they’re good enough they’re old enough.

“I stuck all those lads in at West Ham, Jermain Defoe, 17, Rio (Ferdinand) at 17, Frank - they all went in the first team and played. I’d have him in there all day, he’d be amazing.

“It’s a pity Scott Brown still isn’t playing, he’d be a good bodyguard for him, he’d look after him and sort them out, that’s for sure.”

Redknapp admits 5'5” Gilmour reminds him of great players from his era, including Scotland icon Billy Bremner.

Speaking to The Longest Forty, he added: “I love him, what a footballer he looks. 

“He’s throwback, you had 5’5’' footballers who were great footballers, you had Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles - these types of people going back to my time, Bobby Collins. 

“This little footballer looks like an absolutely fantastic footballer to me, he sees everything. 

“He never gets caught in possession, he’s come in and played against Liverpool and Man United and won man of the match awards.

“I speak to Frank, Frank says he has an amazing attitude - good family, just wants to be a top player. With a bit of luck with no injuries there is nothing to stop him.”