Former Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has slated Chelsea’s Billy Gilmour after Scotland were eliminated from World Cup qualification at the hands of Ukraine in the Scottish Daily Express.
The Scots saw the chance to play at their first World Cup in 24 years slip away as a spirited Ukraine side ran out 3-1 winners, before falling to Wales in the play off final.
The defeat lead to Nicholas questioning whether Gilmour was good enough to live up the excitement which surrounds him, suggesting Scottish football fans should reign in their expectations.
He was quoted as writing in his column by the Daily Record: “Billy Gilmour is a talented player but if he is not careful he could end up becoming the next Barry Bannan.
“Gilmour is a tidy footballer but he has to offer more and we need to stop making him out to be our saviour. He struggled in the play-off because he didn’t get on the ball enough – and when he did it was square pass, square pass.”
The midfielder endured a difficult loan spell at Norwich City this season, where he made 24 league appearances as the side were relegated from the top flight.
His season at Carrow Road has already been heavily criticised, with ESPN pundits putting him in their worst Premier League XI of the season.
Gilmour impressed when he appeared for the Blues under Frank Lampard, looking extremely composed at the base of the midfield, particularly in a fantastic performance in the FA Cup against Liverpool.
It is unknown whether Thomas Tuchel sees the 20-year-old as part of his plans for the upcoming season, with it being reported back in April that he hadn’t yet done enough to prove his case to the German.
Combined with the excellent season on loan for fellow midfielder Conor Gallagher, the future for Gilmour looks nowhere near as bright as it did a couple of years ago.