CALLUM PATERSON BLASTS BACK AT CRITICISM FROM KRIS BOYD
THESE were not exactly the words of encouragement Callum Paterson might have anticipated ahead of the biggest game of his career. As he began his preparations for Wembley, his very presence in the Scotland squad came under question.
Writing in a Sunday newspaper column, Kris Boyd offered the forthright opinion that the Hearts right-back ‘shouldn’t be near the national team’. In the eyes of the ex-Scotland striker, Paterson is ‘nowhere near ready’ for the rigours of international football.
Boyd’s words were startling partly because a pro offering such direct, public criticism of a counterpart’s capabilities can be about as rare as a Mafioso turning informant. A respectful code of Omerta tends to prevail.
Also, these were not comments fired from a full-time pundit nestled in retirement. Boyd made a cameo substitute appearance to enter the same pitch as Paterson less than a fortnight ago, as Kilmarnock recorded a 2-0 win over Hearts.
If the 22-year-old was upset by this cutting appraisal of his current worth from a peer, it did not show when the issue was raised at Scotland’s Mar Hall base.
Paterson insisted the only impact in Boyd’s words would be to add another sliver of motivation as he aims to win his fifth cap against England on Friday evening.
‘People just talk in the papers,’ said Paterson. ‘I don’t take any notice of that. Somebody told me about it, although I didn’t really read it.
‘I don’t really care what anybody else says about me, as long as I play well and feel good myself.
‘If anything, it will motivate me. People who know me know that talking about me doesn’t wind me up. Instead it spurs me on. If that is what he is saying then so be it.
‘I think I have improved defensively, although there is still a long way to go.’
Rather than being nowhere near the squad, there is now a chance for Paterson to cement his place.
Alan Hutton’s recent retirement from international football has left him as the only right-back at Gordon Strachan’s disposal.
‘It is a chance to establish myself but, on a personal level, I’m disappointed as Alan is someone I could learn from,’ said Paterson.
‘I’m disappointed he’s not here but I will try to grasp the opportunity with both hands.
‘I was surprised (about Hutton’s retirement) but it is his choice. I’m also thankful as it has given me a bit of an opportunity.
‘Alan was a player I admired and would look at. He’s big, strong and fast. That’s what the modern game needs. He was the pinnacle of that for Scottish football. That’s what I want to aspire to be.
‘He is one of the players who started off in Scotland and then did well down south. He had a long international career and that’s something I want to replicate.’
The start of Paterson’s time in dark blue — or bright pink, as it will again be at Wembley — has hardly been a gentle introduction to international combat.
A debut in a friendly defeat by Italy was followed by a start in the 5-1 cruise past a depleted Malta side that opened the World Cup campaign. So far, so good. But the brutal reality of Scotland’s current position bit hard last month.
Paterson played all 180 minutes of the painfully poor double-header against Lithuania and Slovakia. A 1-1 home draw followed by a 3-0 whipping in Trnava left hopes of reaching Russia suspended by the most slender of threads.
Paterson, though, speaks of drawing positives, of reflecting the trust Strachan invested in him. The manager’s future remains uncertain but facing England offers a chance for collective redemption.
‘Would this be the biggest game of my career? Of course it would be,’ he said. ‘I have played in a few big games at club level but this would be something else.
‘It is going to be massive crowd and a great feeling to play at Wembley. Hopefully, I can get some game-time and lap up the atmosphere.
‘England are a great side. They have £50million players in their team. But it is a great opportunity for us to put down a marker.
‘We may be a bit nervous before it starts but it is not going to be daunting. Once the whistle goes then it will be all guns blazing.
‘It’s not about thinking about how they might play. We have to play well. We have to rectify what we have done in the past couple of games and take it on a bit.
‘To play against England anywhere would be a massive thing. Me and my friends used to play Scotland v England on the PlayStation when we were younger… nobody wanted to be England.’
One of the £50m players to whom Paterson refers — well, £49m plus add-ons apparently — is Raheem Sterling. Revitalised by Pep Guardiola’s influence at Manchester City, Sterling was at Liverpool when Paterson first came up against him.
Hearts faced the Anfield club in the Europa League qualifiers in 2012, ultimately losing out to a late Luis Suarez goal after a creditable display.
‘In terms of the level of football, that would be the biggest game I have played in, although I have also played in a League Cup final,’ said Paterson.
‘I was playing right midfield that night and Sterling was left midfield. Stuart Downing played left-back, so it was an easy shift!
‘I was 17 at the time, so I was running about like a headless chicken without a care in the world.
‘Now it is a bit more serious and I’m looking forward to it.’