After bursting onto the scene at Chelsea over the past few weeks, Billy Gilmour was in the frame for a Scotland call-up, but Steve Clarke hasn’t selected him this time around.
The midfielder is highly thought of at Chelsea and made his Premier League debut earlier this season. He started their recent Carabao Cup match against Grimsby, in which his boss Frank Lampard hailed him as ‘brilliant’ (Chelsea TV via Metro).
Even Scott Gemmill, Scotland U21s coach, admitted he would be pleased if Clarke enquired about taking the teenager to the senior squad (The Herald).
A regular at youth level, a step up awaits young Gilmour in the future. That time shouldn’t be now though and Clarke seemingly thinks so too.
Too much too soon for Chelsea prodigy Gilmour
Gilmour’s application and hard work at Chelsea has been second to none, leading to the likes of Cesc Fabregas highlighting his excellent play when he does make an appearance.
Pundits and fans alike have raved about the young midfielder who clearly has a bright future ahead of him. Catching the eye at Chelsea, who have a big youth system, is no mean feat.
He deserves plaudits but let’s not overload this talented young man too soon.
Gilmour has just made the first steps into senior football. Being thrown into an under-fire Scotland team where the likes of Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay are criticised for one bad pass won’t do him any good at this stage.
The weight of expectation on his shoulders would be too much to carry at this point. EPL players are, rightly in some cases, expected to perform to a very high standard.
Chelsea’s young prodigy would come under the same scrutiny and at this stage he needs room to develop.
He will be a big player for Scotland in the future, but Gilmour’s time is not now. Clarke has made the right decision not selecting him for the upcoming internationals.