‘I miss Jamie and wish he was here’
JAMIE Paterson was once again absent as Swansea City played out a goalless draw with Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night.
The attacker has missed his side’s last three matches, and his creativity was sorely missed in the stalemate against Mark Warburton’s men.
Joel Piroe, Joel Latibeaudiere, Korey Smith and Michael Obafemi were among those to go close for the Swans who, while keeping their 11th league clean sheet of the campaign, were unable to break the deadlock, despite plenty of positive play in the QPR half.
Paterson is not expected to be involved against Hull City on Saturday, meaning the Swans will yet again be without a player who has contributed eight goals and four assists in 22 Championship appearances this term.
And speaking after the draw with the Hoops at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, Russell Martin re-emphasised his disappointment over Paterson’s continued absence from first-team proceedings.
“Pato, I don’t know. We’ll know more next Monday night (when the transfer window closes). If he’s still with us, brilliant, beautiful, fantastic,” said Martin.
“If he’s not, it means that someone’s met the valuation the owners have put on the player, which is the same for every player, and I’m pretty sure if that happens we’ll be able to replace him and it’ll help us to maybe strengthen in other areas.
“We’ll have to wait and see. We miss him. I wish he was here. I’d rather he was here than watching from home.
“It is what it is. It’s paramount how he feels mentally. He’s not in the right position to play. It’s hurting him, there’s no doubt about it.
“I absolutely love the boy, as a player and as a person. We all do. We’ll have to see how that’s resolved.”
It was telling that, excluding Piroe’s tally, the remaining 11 outfield players to feature for Swansea at QPR have scored just four league goals combined this season.
As for Paterson, he has been training with the club’s under23s at Landore since last week amid a contract dispute with Swansea’s owners.
The Swans are yet to receive any formal offers for the 30-year-old, who is now contracted to the club until the summer of 2023 after a oneyear extension clause in his previous deal was triggered.
And club legend Lee Trundle has urged the Jack Army to welcome Paterson back into the squad should he remain a Swansea player beyond Monday’s 11pm transfer deadline.
“It’s sad for the football club and for Jamie as well. You want to be out there playing. He’s a key player for Swansea as well,” he said on Sky Sports’ coverage of QPR v Swansea.
“When he is out there playing there is always a chance he is going to create. He’s got big goals this season, plus his allround play as well.
“It’s nice to see Russell speaking like that as well, whatever happens next week he hopes to welcome him back in the squad.
“Myself and every Swansea City fan will want to see Jamie back on the pitch because he has been excellent this season.”