McAllister: Patterson will just keep on improving
GARY McALLISTER last night tipped Nathan Patterson to become a key man for both club and country for years to come.
Patterson nailed down his international credentials on Tuesday night when he came off the bench to set up Scotland’s late winner in the Faroes – just days after a standout second-half performance in the thrilling Hampden victory over Israel.
And former Scotland skipper McAllister believes the 19-year-old’s career is only just beginning to blossom.
The Rangers assistant boss said: “He keeps improving and improving. We feel we’ve got a player who can play a long time for Rangers but also a player who can represent his country for a long period as well.
“He’ll just keep getting better. He’s just got to keep taking on board the information from the manager and the coaches at Rangers and his development will make him better and better.
“He’s working a lot on the quality of his deliveries in the final third and in the last couple of games, from all that hard work, he’s got results.
“He’s got a level head and he does take information on really well. But the fact is he’s a humble lad and that will stand him in good stead and help him play for a club at this level.”
McAllister was speaking during an open training session at Ibrox yesterday as Steven Gerrard began preparations for tomorrow’s top of the table showdown with secondplaced Hearts.
And he’s excited at the prospect of away fans returning to Ibrox for a league match for the first time since football went into lockdown last year.
He said: “If there’s two sets of fans going at each other it makes for a better atmosphere. I’m a big fan of having home and away fans in every ground.”
The champions can open up a four-point lead at the top with a win.
On-form striker Kemar Roofe will be in Gerrard’s plans despite rushing back across the Atlantic after scoring his first goal for Jamaica in a World Cup win in Honduras early yesterday morning.
McAllister added: “He’s a super-fit guy and he’ll be involved around the game, for sure.”