The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Scottish Cup: Dramatic schedule change to avoid clash with duke’s funeral
The SFA has torn up this weekend’s Scottish Cup schedule due to the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday, with both Aberdeen and Caley Thistle’s ties moved as a result.
There has been a dramatic change to the fixture list in an effort to avoid clashes with the service for the duke, which will take place at 3pm on Saturday.
Caley Jags were initially scheduled to play their fourth-round clash against St Mirren in Paisley at 3pm on Saturday. However, the game will now take place at 6pm on Friday.
Aberdeen, meanwhile, will still see their tie at home to Livingston televised by Premier Sports, but the fixture – originally scheduled for 2pm on Sunday – has been moved to 5.30pm on Saturday.
Premier Sports will now televise the Glasgow derby between Rangers and Celtic at 3pm on Sunday.
League fixtures are also impacted, with the SPFL yesterday confirming Saturday’s Championship, League One and League Two games will kick off at noon.
North sides Peterhead, Cove Rangers (both League One) and Elgin City (League Two) are affected by the decision.
Cove host Falkirk at the Balmoral Stadium while Peterhead travel to Methil to take on East Fife and Elgin entertain Albion Rovers at Borough Briggs.
Ally McCoist is unequivocal in his belief that Nathan Patterson should be in the Scotland squad for the European Championship this summer.
The 19-year-old Rangers right-back has impressed since emerging as understudy to James Tavernier and has performed well in the recent games that the skipper has missed through injury.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke has stuck by rightbacks Stephen O’Donnell of Motherwell and Liam Palmer of Sheffield Wednesday and said recently of Patterson: “We must give him time to settle in and see how his career goes. But he’s a big player for the future, that’s for sure.”
However, former Scotland and Rangers striker and Ibrox manager McCoist, speaking at Hampden Park to promote coverage of the Rangers versus Celtic Scottish Cup tie exclusively live on Premier Sports this weekend, believes the time is right for a Patterson call-up.
He said: “I would, yes. Scotland have been fantastic and it is brilliant for us that we are back at a major tournament for the first time since 1998.
“But why not, if he is good enough? And Patterson certainly looks good enough.
“We have been boosted by Che Adams coming in, which gives us something different and Lyndon Dykes has done well.
“In certain areas we have to pick our best players, it is as simple as that and at this moment in time Patterson looks as though he could be part of the squad.
“He is still very young and has a long way to go and but I certainly wouldn’t have any problems throwing him
into that squad. If Patterson continues to play and shows the form he has for Rangers I think he would get in, yes.
“But it is great that we are even having this discussion. Steve will sit down with big decisions to make.”
The prospect of playing every week at Ibrox is subject to doubt considering captain Tavernier is one of the best players at the club and has recently signed a new deal which commits him to the club until 2024.
However, McCoist backed Gers boss Steven Gerrard to handle the situation.
He said: “If you look at Phil Foden down at Manchester City, everyone was complaining last year that he wasn’t getting enough games.
“Pep Guardiola took his time with him and then all of a sudden away he goes and he has been phenomenal.
“He has been managed and coached perfectly and I think Patterson will be the same.
“He will get more game time. Whether he plays every week when Tavernier is fit, I wouldn’t have thought so – but I don’t think for a minute Steven won’t manage him very carefully and manage him well.”