SALECOULD CUEADEVINE INTERVENTION
IT was two years ago this month when Rangers fans first got a glimpse of Nathan Patterson in the first team.
The then teenage fullback was handed a start by Steven Gerrard in a straightforward 2-0 Scottish Cup win over Stranraer.
Patterson’s performance was one of the few things to warm up the Gers fans that night in an otherwise drab tie.
Following that victory, Gerrard said: “I was really pleased with Nathan Patterson. He was very positive, he did everything we’ve asked of him and everything we’ve been working on.”
Patterson then emerged as the outstanding candidate to push captain James Tavernier in the right-back slot.
But therein lay the problem for the aspiring youngster – the skipper was standing in his way of regular first-team football.
Two years on from that full debut, coming shortly after Patterson had appeared in a friendly against Lokomotiv Tashkent in Dubai, and the 20-year-old is heading for the Ibrox exit rather than the Rangers starting XI.
There aren’t many losers if the deal goes through. Rangers bank significant cash without weakening their starting XI and kick off their player trading model, while Patterson improves his own financial situation plus gets the football he wants.
How, though, do Rangers fill the void? In promoting Patterson in the first place, Rangers put their faith in their academy and could look to do the same again to save parting with any of the incoming cash. If they go down that road, then Adam Devine is next in line with the highlyrated teenager seen as Patterson’s successor by those within the club.
When Devine was one of a trio of rising stars to sign new deals back in September 2020 until May 2022 – since extended until 2023 – Patterson was held up as their inspiration.
Head of academy Craig Mulholland said: “The opportunity that has been created by the manager and (sporting director) Ross Wilson for Nathan to progress to the first team also demonstrates, for those who are good enough and show that burning desire, our player planning will create the chances they crave.”
Devine joined Partick Thistle last March in a deal that was supposed to last until the end of the season, only for it to be cut short just weeks later.
Devine then headed to Brechin on loan where he made 11 appearances for the Angus side.
At the time of his signing, then Glebe Park boss Michael Paton said: “Rangers feel he is on the same path as Nathan and have high hopes for him.”
We could be about to find out just how much trust they have in Devine and if the youngster is in line for a promotion.