Many would say it was a coming of age, but regardless of opinion, Billy Gilmour certainly announced his arrival on the senior international stage at Wembley on Friday night.
The official UEFA Star of The Match award reinforced the standard of performance and the stature of impact that was made by the Chelsea star.
Following his upbringing in the Rangers youth set-up, Gilmour also provides a sense of achievement, satisfaction and pride to the Auchenhowie academy – this graduate has made his mark.
Just weeks after his Chelsea side clinched the Champions League title in Porto, the Ayrshire lad has capped off a fine end to the season with his breakthrough for Scotland.
The adulation has been hard earned and goes to show what can be achieved with hard work, dedication and endeavour.
This is a player at the top and as much as Steve Clarke has been vindicated by choosing him to face England, it also highlights how the conservative Scotland boss should have utilised Gilmour in the previous game against the Czech Republic.
The 20 year-old has more than earned his spot for the final Group D encounter against Croatia on Tuesday evening – it just remains to be seen if the Scots possess the ability and application to secure their first goals and win of EURO2020 to book their place in the Last 16 of the tournament.
Billy Gilmour vs Englandpic.twitter.com/UyhzWV8xso
— Omar (@FutbolKhan) June 18, 2021