What Role Will Patrick Bamford Play for Chelsea in 2015/16 Season?

Middlesbrough lost 2-0 to Watford on Monday, denting their automatic-promotion hopes back to the Premier League in the process.

That shouldn't worry Patrick Bamford, though; he'll be playing at the highest level next season, regardless.

The on-loan Chelsea striker has been in excellent form for Aitor Karanka's side this term, playing a significant role in their push to return to the top flight.

Bamford has scored 17 times in all competitions, but notably five of those goals have come in the last month or so.

He's been the difference at a time when everything counts most.

Indeed, in two of Boro's last three wins, Bamford has scored the only goal to keep the points tally ticking over.

Without his strikes in the recent 1-0 victories over Derby County and Wigan Athletic, Middlesbrough would still be in the Championship's play-off spots, but five points adrift of an automatic spot.

So late into the campaign, they would be out of the running.

Jose Mourinho made an interesting point this weekend after Chelsea defeated Stoke City 2-1.

Despite Chelsea's dominance, the scoreline wasn't as convincing as it should have been, but he worried little.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

"In this moment a victory is a victory," Mourinho explained. "Yesterday, for example, I sent a message to Karanka [after Middlesbrough’s win] and said: '1-0 in April is like 10-0 in November.'"

Perhaps it was a nod to Bamford also, who had scored the goal in that 1-0 victory: A match-winning goal in this moment is a hat-trick for a striker in November, maybe.

Mourinho's point is that when we reach the business end, performances matter for little. Managers need their players to show guts and to grind out victories.

It's when we see those with character begin to emerge.

It may well be in the Championship, but Bamford is doing it for Middlesbrough.

The reason he is on loan with Boro is to develop that side of his game, to become more ruthless and benefit from the game time against senior professionals.

Stu Forster/Getty Images

When Chelsea signed him from Nottingham Forest three years ago, they knew they were bringing a goalscorer to the club.

Yet as we know, those attributes aren't enough. Top-end players require something different and not all of Chelsea's loanees have demonstrated that.

Just as he has been a goalscorer for Boro, Bamford has shown he can do the same for Chelsea.

High-pressure games are the same whether they are in the Champions League or League 2. The media focus may be different, but for those players involved, the outcome is just as important.

The pressure remains.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Bamford isn't going to be starting games for Chelsea next season. He remains untested and a raw talent at Premier League level. Besides, Diego Costa is simply too good for the youngster to ever consider Mourinho throwing him in over him.

His test has been to show he can cope with pressure, that he can have a positive influence on a team when they are chasing glory. Which he has.

When Bamford returns to Stamford Bridge, his job will be to show he can fit into a squad with players of international renown and play his part in supporting it.

Whereas it's been about him at Middlesbrough, it'll be about Chelsea and those players like Costa and Loic Remy who are ahead of Bamford in the pecking order.

Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Take Kurt Zouma, for instance. He has played that role to perfection this season, supporting Gary Cahill and John Terry throughout the campaign.

Only last year, however, Zouma was integral to Saint-Etienne.

Zouma has developed significantly to now be a vital part of what Mourinho is planning at Chelsea and Bamford's role will be to mirror that.

The club has big hopes of producing a team from its youth ranks and Bamford must help that process if and when he gets the call from his manager.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes