Cardiff City’s utility man Callum Paterson has done remarkably well to bounce back from a serious knee injury.
Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock has heaped praise on his Scottish youngster Callum Paterson after the 23-year-old’s selection into Alex McLeish’s first Scotland squad since his re-appointment.
A rare utility player, Paterson has usually been deployed as a right-back or even a striker in the past. However, under Warnock he has started to develop into a fine central midfielder.
With such variation in his game play, his inclusion in the Scotland squad must have been a no-brainer for McLeish.
“Yeah I’m delighted for him, he’s obviously a mad Scotsman and desperate to play for his country,” the Cardiff City boss told the BBC.
“We had a gamble with him [after his injury with Hearts], I always liked him up there, and talking to Craig Levein, it was a good time for him to join us and he’s done ever so well.
“It took him until October to get fit, but he’s not looked back really, I’ve converted him at the moment, he’s playing centre-midfield for me at the minute.”
Warnock went on to suggest the former Hearts man could play right-sided centre-half, due to his strong defensive capabilities and ability in the air.
With such diversity to his game, and a clear eye for goal, Paterson will no doubt begin attracting interest from the Premier League’s big guns, especially if Cardiff cap off their magnificent season with promotion from the Championship, which is looking increasingly likely by the week.
Paterson scored 38 goals for Hearts before moving to Cardiff, predominantly from the right-back position, and has enjoyed decent scoring form for Cardiff, too.
Seven goals in the Championship is a credible return for any youngster in his first year in English football, especially from midfield, and Paterson could have some international career ahead of him if he continues in similar fashion.
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