Brighton move is make or break for Gilmour

THIS is it, then, for Billy Gilmour. Time to prove that he really is what many of us think he is. By that, we mean the best talent to come out of Scotland in a generation.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel wanted to keep Gilmour on the books at Stamford Bridge and punt him out on another loan deal following last term’s hugely disappointing stay at Norwich City.

It is to Gilmour’s credit that he didn’t see that as acceptable. That he wanted to make a permanent move. Yes, there wasn’t much choice if he wanted to go to Brighton as they already had a Chelsea player on loan in Levi Colwill and rules prevented them from taking another.

However, it is best for the former Rangers youth prospect (right) to branch out. Make his name at a club he is properly part of the fabric of. Graham Potter should suit him as a coach and Gilmour says himself that the team’s style ought to be up his street.

It is easy to understand what Tuchel means when he says that there is a big jump up from a failed season at Carrow Road to the Chelsea first team. Too big a jump. Gilmour wasn’t going to make it at Chelsea, but plenty of good players in the past have had to take a step back to move forward.

Gilmour has shown in flashes that he is, beyond doubt, a prodigious talent. He now needs to become a consistent one.

At 21, he needs to be playing — and performing — every week. He needs to become a really influential figure in a top-level team. In essence, he needs to show that all the hype has been worth it. It’s make-or-break now.