Conor Gallagher was once again the standout player on the pitch for Crystal Palace as he scored two goals in their 3-1 win over a struggling Everton side on Sunday evening.
Speaking after the game, Patrick Vieira was full of praise for the Chelsea loanee but remained coy when asked if he believed Palace had a chance of signing him permanently at the end of the season.
“There is still a lot to come from him," he said. "He will need to learn to manage his strength and how to manage his energy. He gives everything to the team, so to have a midfielder who can score 10-15 goals is important.
“We don’t think about the future. We are pleased to work with him. So, it’s a win-win. We will see what happens at the end of the season.”
The 21-year-old midfielder graduated from the Chelsea academy before going on to enjoy a string of successful loans.
He’s shown the tenacity it takes for any youth player at a big club to stand out from the crowd before plotting a route to the first team, and that's got to be the ultimate goal for him.
Chelsea’s youth system has been criticised in the past for not integrating players into the first team. The club has tended to sell its brightest prospects for handsome fees, an aspect of their business model that's become something of a trademark in recent years.
Former England boss Sam Allardyce has warned Gallagher not to fall into the same trap as Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard, meaning he can't afford to be blindsided by his love of the club if he can't be promised first-team football.
"Well I wouldn’t spend too long there if I don’t get into the first team," Allardyce recently told TalkSport.
“I’d want to come back and give it a go and I think on his form at the moment and you have to bear in mind how he made his England debut, he’s an England international.
“He would want to go back and try and get in the team but I think if you do that, you’ve got to play enough first-team games because if you don’t you can easily fall backwards like Jesse Lingard."
Fikayo Tomori spent a part of last season on loan at AC Milan where he impressed before making the move permanent. In hindsight, it’s a decision Chelsea may live to regret. Antonio Rudiger looks likely to leave at the end of the season and so Chelsea could do with a talented young centre-back ready to step into his place.
It’s a very similar story with Tammy Abraham. The England international proved under Frank Lampard that he could do a job for Chelsea, though the club couldn't help but be lured into selling him once Roma came calling. Chelsea could do will a prolific goalscorer at the minute.
If and when Gallagher returns to Chelsea, it would be a massive shame to see him shipped out as part of a big-money move without offering him his chance in the side.
He’s clearly a talent and Chelsea need to ensure they don't repeat mistakes of the past.
Should Conor Gallagher be integrated into the first team once he returns to Chelsea? Follow our Carefree Chelsea team member Renuka on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
