Backs to the future
Paterson hails the magnificent seven centre-backs who can help Scotland end decades of international hurt while shoring up our dodgy defence
CRAIG PATERSON can point to a string of Scotland’s greatest ever central defenders as a reason for never achieving his dream of winning a full cap.
Capped twice at Under-21 level, the former Hibs, Rangers, Motherwell and Kilmarnock stopper found his route to the top team blocked by a host of stars.
When he rhymes them off it’s easy to see why he didn’t get the ultimate honour. Willie Miller, David Narey, Paul Hegarty, Alan Hansen and Alex McLeish.
It’s a quintet often referred to in recent years when highlighting a position that has become a huge problem for the national team.
While former boss Gordon Strachan was spoiled for choice with some of the best left-backs the country has produced in Kieran Tierney and Andrew Robertson he struggled to find a consistent central pairing.
In the last international againt Holland stand-in boss Malky Mackay even deployed the Celtic ace in the heart of the rearguard.
But at last the future is looking bright and Paterson reckons the current crop of young central defensive stars are the best since he was knocking on the door 35 years ago.
Brendan Rodgers tipped Jack Hendry for an international future after signing him for Celtic and he was one of seven stoppers picked out by Record Sport who could force their way into future squads.
Ryan Porteous earned rave reviews for his display for Hibs in their win over Rangers at the weekend and Edinburgh rival John Souttar has been part of a mean Hearts rearguard this season.
Liam Lindsay is making a name for himself since moving from Partick Thistle to Barnsley while Rangers duo Ross McCrorie and David Bates emerged as one of the two success stories of an otherwise disastrous Pedro Caixinha era at Ibrox.
And Aberdeen rate Scott McKenna so highly they stood firm despite a £1million bid from Hull on transfer deadline day.
Paterson has watched all seven in his role as a BBC pundit and believes they will be a major selling point for the SFA as they look to attract a new boss.
The 58-year-old said: “I’ve not known a crop like this in any position for many years and the seven players point to a bright future for Scotland.
“We’ve got to start somewhere so if we can get the back lot sorted out that gives the manager, whoever it’s going to be, something to build on.
“I know Michael O’Neill didn’t take the job but when you’re trying to attract someone you want to be able to throw things at him he can work with.
“For years now we have had a real problem in getting a partnership or even three or four central defenders you knew would be in the squad every time.
“That was something that was never an issue for Scotland managers back in