Paterson plans to repay faith of Warnock now he is fit for purpose
CALLUM PATERSON was most appealing when in the shop window. A recently capped Scotland international, nine goals from right-back halfway through a season, a standout most weeks for Hearts at the age of 22 and running out of contract.
Being stuck in a treatment room for months on end with a collapsed knee is not such an alluring look. The harsh, predictable reality and natural course of events was clubs taking their business elsewhere after Paterson’s cruel break — cruciate and medial ligament damage suffered to his left knee against Kilmarnock last December.
Cardiff City couldn’t forget. And did not desert him. Neil Warnock had already been sold on what he’d seen of Paterson’s powerful displays up and down the right flank for Hearts and Scotland. Mired in more rehab six months into his comeback and at the expiry of his Tynecastle contract in June, Paterson moved for a £400,000 development fee and signed a three-year deal with the English Championship promotion hopefuls.
Now, after playing his first top-team game in nine months on October 21 in a victory at Middlesbrough, Paterson is four games into his Cardiff career and was eased straight back into the Scotland squad by Malky Mackay last week with a place on the bench against Holland. Yet he won’t ever forget that feeling of vulnerability spooking him during his slog back to fitness.
‘It felt horrible,’ admitted Paterson. ‘I was obviously out of contract at Hearts, nothing was really happening on that front. I was kind of stagnating a bit. My head was a bit of a mess because I didn’t know what was happening.
‘Of course, you 100-per-cent doubt if you’re going to come back as good. It’s a long-term injury but 90 per cent, or maybe more of that, is in the mind. You need to keep your brain healthy and get the negative thoughts out.
‘That’s not easy to do, especially when you’re stuck in a room for nine months. The injury is negative enough without bringing extra pressure on yourself. You don’t want to start dwelling on the what ifs or what could have beens.
‘It’s more to do with what happens from there on and clearly, at that moment, it wasn’t my time to go anywhere. My job was to get fit and get playing and that’s what I concentrated on. Even though they knew I was leaving, Hearts were great with me.
‘They kept me going, kept me on through my rehab and the physios were terrific. Thankfully, everything got sorted out in the end. Neil Warnock showed huge faith in me to take me on when I was injured and I want to repay him.’
A combative player throughout his development at Tynecastle, Paterson was long considered ready for England by admirers Wigan and Derby County. Then the Premier League came calling with West Ham interested shortly before disaster struck.
Two substitute appearances and two starts for Warnock’s team within the last month have seen the 23-year-old confront the challenges of the Championship head on following serious injury. Paterson proved to be a marking match-up nightmare for many a SPFL Premiership defence at setpieces. He plans to ensure that edge to his game is not entirely negated as he adjusts to the English second tier with a squad aiming to be in the promotion mix.
‘It’s physical, a lot more physical than I thought it would be,’ noted Paterson. ‘Everyone is bigger, faster and stronger. I’m fitting in so far and hopefully I can kick on. When you’re lining up at corners it’s a bit different as well, lads are taller than me and better than me in the air. That’s a bit different.
‘But it’s good to welcome a new challenge. I scored my first ever hat-trick for the Under-23s on my comeback, so that was a bit weird for me. But I’m back with the big boys now so I need to make sure I stay there and cement my place.
‘I’m just getting back to match fitness now and getting the sharpness back. It will take some time but I’m feeling good, starting to get a run of games. Every player wants to play in the English Premier League and Cardiff have already been there and are looking to go back up. That was a massive reason for going there. And, with Scotland, Euro 2020 has to be the target.’