Scotland coach Steve Clarke has praised Billy Gilmour for his form with Brighton.

The midfielder impressed in the latter games of the season.

Clarke said: “He's done well, Billy.

“It was obviously a tough situation for him when he got there.

“He was competing against two world-class players in Caicedo and Mac Allister, and it took him a long time to work his way into the team.

“I spoke to him briefly in the last camp and told him just to knuckle down and get on with it.

“You can't feel sorry for yourself.

“But since he has come into the team his performances have been good, which is a positive for Billy and certainly a positive for the national team.

“I've always spoken about Billy as one for now, but definitely one for the future.

“As a young player, you are always going to have ups and downs. You're going to be in the team, you are going to be out of the team.

“You are going to have a good run of form.

“You have to learn to handle it and he has handled this season quite well.

“He had a disappointing loan at Norwich.

“He could have easily crumbled and felt sorry for himself, but he hasn't done that.

“He has knuckled down, he has obviously impressed the manager in training and he's found his way into the team."