In July 2014, Ryan Gauld moved to Portuguese powerhouse Sporting CP as an 18-year-old with an incredibly bright future ahead of him. This week, he has returned to Scotland desperate to revive his ever-declining career after being astonishingly quiet during his trip abroad.

Held in high regard by his native Scots after bursting onto the scene in spectacular fashion at Dundee United, ‘The Scottish Messi’ aimed to follow in the footsteps of the Argentine’s great rival Cristiano Ronaldo with a move to os Leões.

Unofrtunately for him, his career failed to take flight during his four-and-a-half year stint in Portugal, something that, in hindsight, he’ll be wishing his plane had never achieved as he makes a return to Scottish football having accomplished far less than many expected him to.

Gauld never managed to stake a claim for a place in Marco Silva’s first team, spending his first two seasons playing for Sporting’s B team. In 64 Segunda Liga appearances throughout the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons, he reached a reasonable tally of eight goals but his performances only warranted five first-team appearances before experience out on loan became his only option.

The playmaker endured loan spells at Vitoria de Setubal, C.D. Aves and S.C. Farense in an attempt to rediscover his glistening form, and whilst he showed glimpses of what he could do, his inability to perform consistently and make an instant impact when opportunities arose led to an inevitably frustrating chapter in his career.

Back on home soil, the 23-year-old will be eager to put all doubts about his ability behind him in a bid to recreate the form he showed when he first emerged as a prospect. Having being presented with a perfect opportunity to display his talent. Joining a Hibernian side who currently occupy eighth place in the Scottish Premiership after failing to build upon an impressive 2017/18 campaign under Neil Lennon.

With time still on his side, will Gauld ever reach the heights many anticipated during his teenage years or has his hay day been and gone? With a more gradual, calculated rise in terms of where he plays his football. A potential decade of Scottish international football with game time at the top level could well be ahead of him.