Can’t thank boss enough for telling me I’m a rotten defender ... SAYS
Callum Paterson couldn’t put up a cacase for the defence when Neil WaWarnock told him he made a rotterotten full-back.
Now tthe former Hearts star is set to reap the rewards with club and country after the Cardiff gaffer’s blunt talking revealed a truth.
PatersPaterson has recovered from a horror knee injuinjury that threatened to stall his career to become a mainstay with the Welsh ooutfit, who have just clinched promotipromotion to the Premier League.
Now his Scotland career is also gatheringathering pace.
The 23-23year- old won his eighth cap against Peru last week af ter f irst emerginemerging at senior level two years ago, shortly bbefore the injury that sidelined him for nnine months.
WarnWarnock may be a divisive character in the dugoutdu but he knows a player – and PatersPaterson has thrived since being moved into aan advanced role in the centre ofmidofmidfield.
He eended the season as Cardiff’s top scorer with 10 goals as they returned to the bigb time. And his popularity among the BluebirdBluebirds fans was recognised when he was awardedawa their Young Player of the Year titletitle.
PatersonPaters said: “I’ve played a number of positipositions in my career but I’m now a midfield runner and enjoying it.
“WarnWarnock just basically told me I couldn’t defend.
“The mmanager is old school and tells like it is. If you do something right he’ll tell you – and if you don’t then you will certainly know.
“I have had a few rollockings from him but also a lot of praise. He is amazing.
“It is nnice to have somebody who is honest aand doesn’t beat about the bush. That is wwhat I like.
“He mmade his comments about my defending defendin in a positive way because I was an aattacking full-back at the time.
“He toldtol me my biggest asset was going forward and if I was going to do that I would bbe as well operating from an advancadvanced position. “I plaplayed with Hearts at right-back and chchipped in with a few goals but it’s fair to say I shipped a few as well. “I’m an attack-minded player who likes tto get into the box and score goals. “I lilike getting forward and my strong point is also getting up to head the ball aand attack crosses. “I aam central to a lot more things in thithis new position and it means I am a lot mmore involved in games. “I might not be the biggest standstand-out in the world but I do my job and I am happy to be part of a team that has just been promoted to the PremPremier League. “HHopefully I can use my experience therthere to get a long-term run in the ScotScotland team.” PaPaterson replaced John McGinn midmidway through the second half of the 2- 0 defeat in Lima and was instinstrumental in linking with Lewis MoMorgan to set Oli McBurnie up for the best chance of the game for Alex MMcLeish’s men. Scotland’s summer tour came to an end with last night’s game in Mexico but after coming through so much since December 2016, when he ruptured his ligaments in a 4- 0 win over Kilmarnock, he could be forgiven for never wanting the season to finish.
He added: “When I signed for Cardiff the manager wanted me to get fit, get some game time and kick on this season.
“Thankfully, I returned and kicked on even quicker than even I expected.
“The season before wasn’t great for Cardiff and they struggled. This season has been hugely different although we will still need to add a bit of depth going into the top flight.
“The odds of us winning promotion at the start of the season were crazy but we showed we had more than enough quality at Championship level.
“Many people simply hoped we would stay up but we exceeded expectations.
“It has been my dream to play in the Premier League since I was five years old. To do it at the first time of asking makes it even sweeter, especially with a team like Cardiff.
“The players are all like me, young and enthusiastic, and that has been key to our success. I believe I can play in the Premier League and I’m looking forward to the challenge of fighting for my place.”
Paterson’s Scotland ambitions remain without limits and he reckons he’s now reaping the rewards of breaking into the top team at the Jambos and making his debut in the Premiership against St Johnstone at the age of only 17.
The former Scotland youth player added: “It was good to be involved with the international team from a young age.
“The Premiership is a nice place to start, to flourish and to show your worth.
“I was thankful of the opportunity I got at Hearts and it has stood me in good stead.”