Gerrard has high hopes for rising Rangers star Patterson
Steven Gerrard admits he had to push ex-liverpool teammate Jon Flanagan out of the Ibrox exit to clear space for rising star Nathan Patterson.
Gerrard was faced with a tough decision last summer as Flanagan – part of the same Liverpool squad as Gerrard which came agonisingly close to Premier League glory in 2014 – reached the end of his two-year rangers deal, but the manager ultimately came to the conclusion he had to cut his old friend loose, along with fellow right-back Matt Polster, to give Patterson his chance.
The 19-year-old has had an eventful past month. He faces the prospect of a hefty ban when he appears before a Scottish Football Association disciplinary hearing on March 25 after he and four team-mates breached Covid rules with an illegal house party.
However, he has shrugged off that controversy to step up and fill in for injured skipper James Tavernier. And it was Patterson’s mature display in Thursday’s 1-1 Europa League last-16 first-leg draw with Slavia Prague that has reassured Gerrard he was right to put his faith in the teen.
The Rangers manager said. “I moved two or three fullbacks on, because I had big confidence in Calvin Bassey and also Nathan. We decided not to extend Jon Flanagan and moved Matt Polster on. They were the back-up rightbacks at the time. And that's because we knew we had to make room for Nathan. There are only so many days you can spend in the academy before you need to make the next step.
“Now he just needs to keep growing and learning. We want him to become an elite player for this country – and the club, more importantly. It’s an exciting future for him. He's young and he just needs to be looked after in the right way. He's in the right place."
Patterson faced his stiffest examination yet in Prague as the Czech champions targeted his inexperience, but the Scotland Under-21 international stood up to the test, making a vital late block which keeps Rangers on track for the last eight ahead of the second leg.
“He was outstanding,” said Gerrard. “I think he became a man on Thursday. That was probably the biggest game of his career. He has had a big few weeks emotionally and has stepped into the captain’s position and played with maturity. He has a massive future ahead of him and we just need to keep guiding him and shaping him and improving him. We have a player here, I think.”
Rangers have key men like Tavernier and Connor Goldson approaching the final year of their contracts this summer, while veteran stars Allan Mcgregor and Steven Davis’ deals end in May.
Gerrard had promised to start dealing out fresh terms once his side had got across the Premiership finish line, but he has now preached patience, despite last week’s title win.
“We just need time to breathe,” he said. “It’s only days after a league title win, the first in 10 years. Everyone is on an incredible high and the Slavia game has come around extremely quickly.
“We’re aware of all the players’ contracts and what we need to do. In time, people will be rewarded for what they have given the club over the last three years.”