Chelsea youngster told to "prove himself" by Guus Hiddink.

Patrick Bamford had been previously knocking on the managers door asking to be given a chance at Chelsea after successful loan spells in the Championship. Following a disaster at Palace, Guus Hiddink has challenged him to prove himself all over again.

As we moved into this season, many Chelsea fans would have liked to see Patrick Bamford be given a chance of a place within our first team squad this year. He had been out on loan time and time again culminating in a really successful spell at Middlesborough when he picked up the Championship Player of the Year award.

Everything had looked good for him and he seemed ready for the Premier League or at least for exposure to Premier League football.

He was then given that chance on loan at Crystal Palace by Alan Pardew but his loan was terminated by mutual agreement early as he failed to make his mark. Pardew later stated:

"This was a learning curve for him. He knows this is a little bit of a step up from the Championship, but there is nothing to suggest he can’t make that step up. I wish him all the best for the future.

I like him. He’s a prospect. His game time here was disappointing. I get that. Now he needs to find game time in the Premier League. Will he get that at Chelsea?

I hope he becomes a top player because he has some really nice attributes as a person and if he becomes a great player, then great.”

Now back at Chelsea with the transfer window open, there is every opportunity for Bamford to be sent out again for the second half of the season but Guus Hiddink had a message for him if he stays beyond the window and he still wants to make his mark in the first team. He said:

"Bamford hardly played for Palace, so first he has to prove himself with the under-21s and make a step. Then we'll see what can happen."

He isn't exactly closing the door is he? Based on the fact that we have a real lack of numbers at the moment with Loic Remy only just available after injury and Radamel Falcao still struggling, you would have thought that Patrick Bamford could be considered rather than spending huge amounts of silly money in this transfer window.

The quote from Hiddink will be a blow to a player who has thrived on regular first team football. I guess right now it's down to how much the youngster wants his dream of playing for Chelsea which is something he has openly admitted. If he puts the work in and scores goals in the Under-21's then who knows what could happen.

Let's see if he stays beyond this window first!