Patterson returns to Rangers in blow to Scotland’s World Cup hopes
Just as Nathan Patterson had given hope to a nation and, alongside Billy Gilmour, provided a youthful exuberance to the Scottish national team, it has been cruelly snatched away.
Steve Clarke probably didn’t need an excuse to pick his teacher’s pet – Stephen O’Donnell – but now it looks as though he has no choice, having called up Paul McGinn as the Rangers youngster’s replacement after it was announced that he has withdrawn from the squad.
As yet, we don’t know exactly why the 19-year old will be returning to Rangers in what is a huge blow to both the player and Scotland, his moment of magic providing the inspiration for the only goal against Moldova at the weekend and offered a genuine balance to the attack that hasn’t been seen for years.
Gers fans will now face an anxious wait to find out what has happened to the prodigious talent who was the subject of a failed £8million bid from Everton in the summer transfer window, he would also have been likely to start against St Johnstone for his club at the weekend depending, of course, on how James Tavernier has recovered from his period of isolation.
It would have been great to see Patterson being tested against decent opposition in the shape of Austria and being given the chance to nail down his position as Scotland’s first choice right-back, every Rangers fan knows that he is the best in the country, it’s about time others started giving him the respect his talent deserves.