Recently retired star claims throwing teen into Euro 2020 clash would be a massive risk

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Former Rangers and Scotland star Steven Naismith thinks Steve Clarke will stick with Stephen O’Donnell for tonight’s Euro 2020 clash with England at Wembley – insisting it is too much of a risk to bring Ibrox teen Nathan Patterson into the side.

O’Donnell had a nightmare against the Czech Republic in the opening game, with Scotland fans generally wanting the Motherwell defender axed for the Wembley clash.

Naismith, however, thinks that Patterson will have more chance of forcing his way into the side next season, bizarrely thinking it would be a ‘fairer argument’ to compare them next season.

“I think it’s a fairer argument next season when he’s in a fresh campaign and he’s in the squad,” Naismith told Radio Clyde.

“It’s a 50/50 fight. He’s coming in late to try and get himself involved in a team where Sods (O’Donnell) has played since the manager has come in – Liam Palmer has come in and the manager has stuck with Sods.

“I can’t see it happening. I think the manager is comfortable with the decision.”

“When Naismith was then asked by host Gordon Duncan what he would do if he was in charge he admitted he wouldn’t play Patterson, continuing: “I wouldn’t play Patterson just for the risk factor.

“If it goes bad, it’s just another argument and debate. It’s safer to play Sods. There are bigger decisions in the team to be made than that one for me.”

Taking a risk for Euro 2020 clash is surely better than settling for bad

Despite Naismith’s claims that O’Donnell has been the first pick at right-back under Clarke, he’s only played in half of the internationals Clarke has taken charge of.

The idea that it is better to stick with someone who isn’t performing and doesn’t particularly look comfortable rather than take the risk of replacing him is a weird notion.

It would seem accepting mediocrity rather than trying to be better is the order of the day and smacks of the same short-sightedness that has plagued the Scottish national team for decades.

Naismith’s argument that playing Patterson could lead to another “argument and debate” is utterly laughable as yet another poor performance by O’Donnell will lead to exactly the same outcome.