Nathan Patterson opens up on the mistake that almost ended his Rangers career – and led to Euro 2020

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Rangers and Scotland defender Nathan Patterson has opened up on the Covid row that threatened to derail his career earlier this year and praised Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard for his handling of it.

Patterson was one of five Rangers players caught breaching Covid regulations in February, earning a lengthy ban in the process, before a stunning run of form earned him a surprise place in Steve Clarke’s Euro 2020 squad.

Patterson knows he can’t afford another mistake after such a high-profile error and thinks his performances since have gone some way to making it up to fans.

After his call-up to the Scotland squad for Euro 2020, Patterson admits he’s “done well” and will be hoping he can impress when the Dark Blues’ first major finals campaign in 23 years gets underway on Monday.

“Obviously I have done well to get to where I am now,” he told the Scottish Sun.

“What you do on the pitch shows who you are. I have worked hard on and off the pitch.

“Yes, obviously when it all came out it wasn’t a great time and I was obviously worried for myself and for everyone else.

“But the gaffer was great. He just told me straight and said to me, ‘Look, everyone makes mistakes’.

“He said he’s made mistakes before in his own life but that it’s all about how you bounce back.

“You just have to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“I totally agree with him. Obviously I had to go out there and make it up to the fans and I felt as if I did that.”

Patterson’s Rangers future is in his own hands now

Patterson could well have seen his time at Ibrox ended by his Covid breach but the teenager now has control of his own future at Ibrox.

His performances as deputy to James Tavernier have thrust him into serious contention for regular action and it will give Steven Gerrard a headache going into the new season.

Having two quality right-backs could, remarkably, help push Tavernier on to even higher performance levels while easing the reliance on the skipper that’s been evident in recent seasons.