Billy Gilmour at Chelsea crossroads - could Rangers return benefit Scotland's young talisman?

For Billy Gilmour to embellish Scotland as he did at Wembley the Chelsea youngster needs regularly game time at club level. But the scant chance of that at Stamford Bridge means a long-season appears in the offing - though Graeme Souness see this as unnecessary. Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

It would be great to think that Billy Gilmour’s Chelsea career could really take flight after the 20-year-old gave Scotland wings at Wembley.

Yet that hope has to butt against the challenges faced by the midfielder at the Champions League holders. Gilmour, currently self-isolating after catching Covid-19 to end his Euros even more prematurely than it concluded for his country without him against Croatia, may suddenly have become regarded as the most transformative performer in the national set-up. At Stamford Bridge, though, the young Scot is effectively sixth choice for a central midfield role. That is no slight on him when Tuchel can deploy Ballon d’Or tipped N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic. That really is what you call an embarrassment of riches. These mighty obstacles to involvement for Gilmour seem set to see him being sent out on a season-long loan deal. What he cannot do - especially if he is to be in a position to build on his England showing when Scotland face a must-not-lose World Cup qualifier in Denmark come September - is slip into the shadows.

Norwich City appear confident of being chosen as the club for Gilmour to continue his development, but Rangers have also been mentioned. A return to the Ibrox club that reared him has genuine merit. It could mean, under Steven Gerrard, Gilmour burnishing his abilities in the Champions League, and operating under the pressure of having to form the bedrock for winning displays each time he steps on to the pitch.