There was one question that came out of Saturday’s 5-0 win over Ross County that has been bubbling away under the surface for while amongst Rangers fans – what is the best development path for Nathan Patterson?
The 19-year old was faultless in his 20 minute cameo showing both the running power and crossing ability of the man blocking his route into the first-team on a more regular basis.
It is quite a unique position in that our best youth player – who is highly rated by the manager – happens to have our best outfield player and skipper ahead of him in the queue, if he played anywhere else on the park, to the same standard, he would probably be on 20 plus appearances for the season.
James Tavernier simply doesn’t miss games either, his durability is on another level to anything I have seen and I’ve been watching football since the 80s when Terry Butcher, Graeme Souness and Davie Cooper were in their pomp.
So, should Patterson go out on loan to get more game experience? The youngster is fully “focussed” on all things Rangers and staying at the club.
Not for me. he is too good to let go in the unlikely event that Tav did get injured, plus, it would mean that we would have to go out and buy another right-back, there is no point in that at all.
Patterson’s cameo showed that he can be trusted as and when required and that it has to be remembered just how young he still is, there is no need to rush him, the likes of Alan Hutton, Steven Smith, Barry Ferguson and Chris Burke didn’t go out on loan and yet they all contributed in winning teams – Smith and Burke were let down physically but certainly had the talent, and Patterson is no different.
What's best for Patterson in your opinion?
Loan move
Stay at Rangers
He is a member of our, and Steven Gerrard’s, first-team squad, and that is where he should remain, hopefully if we can finish what we started this season he will get more time on the park which will also reduce the pressure next year to play Tav in every game, learning from one of the best we’ve had and adapting to our system is the best way to prepare Patterson for life as Rangers right-back – a destiny few would bet against him fulfilling.