Rangers teen Nathan Patterson started his first Old Firm on Sunday as the Light Blues sealed their place in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup with a 2-0 win over Celtic at Ibrox – and the 19-year-old doesn’t just deserve to go to Euro 2020 with Scotland, he should be Steve Clarke’s first choice at right-back.
Patterson has been touted for a place in Steve Clarke’s squad by fans and pundits alike, but he is yet to win a call-up to the senior squad with the finals just months away.
The talented defender has been thrust into the starting XI at Ibrox thanks to an injury to skipper James Tavernier but he has grabbed his opportunity with both hands and showing he should be considered a viable alternative to Tavernier in the short-term, never mind being his long-term replacement.
His performance in the 2-0 win over Celtic was one of a player who is brimming with confidence and looking every inch an established first-team player at Ibrox rather than the teenager with only eight senior starts that he really is.
Clarke’s Scotland side has seen Motherwell’s Stephen O’Donnell become the first choice but Patterson has shown more than enough in his limited appearances to show he is a genuine contender for the right-back/right wing-back spot when the Euros get underway.
UEFA’s decision to slightly expand the size of the squads available at this summer’s finals gives Clarke the chance to add one or two players that may have just missed out had the numbers remained at 23, and Patterson is one who could be in line to benefit.
Rangers keeper Jon McLaughlin is likely to be the only representation from Ibrox with Ryan Jack ruled out through injury – but Clarke seriously needs to consider taking Patterson along.
Steven Gerrard was full of praise for Patterson after the win, pushing the defender’s credentials for the Euros by calling him the in-form right back in Scotland: “If there is a better right back in the country on form, I would like to see it.” [Glasgow Times]
“I would like to see it. If there is a better right back, on current form, that is Scottish, in the league, I would like to see it.”
With a couple of goals under his belt already, Patterson almost grabbed his third senior goal in the Old Firm win as he continually caused problems with his driving runs from deep.
There are still some aspects of his game that need to improve, getting away with one or two against Celtic, but the experience of representing his country at the Euros after a breakout season at club level would be massive for his development.
His performances since coming into the side have shown just how big a future the teen has ahead of him – and Clarke is sure to have seen that the Rangers defender wouldn’t let him down if he was handed the number 2 shirt for Scotland.
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