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CALLUM Paterson admits he feared his latest long-term injury would prevent him from ever getting back to his best, but says he pulled through thanks to the “positive people” around him, including a young Cardiff City teammate.
Paterson was one of 10 signings brought in by boss Neil Warnock over the summer, but didn’t make his full debut until the 3-1 win over Ipswich at the end of October, having arrived at the Cardiff City Stadium with a cruciate ligament injury.
Warnock’s willingness to take a chance on the Scot is testament to how highly he rates his ability, and despite only making two full first team appearances this season, Paterson is beginning to repay some of the faith shown in him, with recent performances even earning him a place in the latest Scotland squad.
But Paterson has emerged from his struggles in the treatment room with more than just credit.
Indeed, the time spent trying to get his career back on track saw him forge a friendship with 22-yearold striker Rhys Healey, who also happened to be working his way back from a cruciate injury around the same time.
Healey, who spent a chunk of last season out on loan at Newport County, recently signed a new deal with the Bluebirds, suggesting Warnock has placed a similar amount of faith in his ability. The similarities between the two have seemingly helped to form a strong friendship between the pair, who could both have a big role to play in Cardiff’s future. He told The Scotsman: “I’ve had a lot of positive people around me in the rehab room. “There was another guy who had an ACL, Rhys Healey, and we’ve become good friends and it’s easy to get on with it if you got somebody who is positive. “My family are positive and I had my girlfriend with me the whole way through it.”
It all marks a significant turnaround for the 23-year-old, who admits that his latest setback sparked fears over where his career was heading.
“It’s a mental injury as well as a physical one, so you don’t want to start dwelling on the ‘what could have beens’ and ‘what ifs’.
“It’s more to do with what happens from there on and clearly at that moment it wasn’t my time to go anywhere.
“Thankfully Cardiff showed some faith in me.
“My job was just to get fit and get playing and that’s what I concentrated on – my agent looked after the rest of it. I’m quite a happy guy in general, I’m a big believer in what’s for you won’t go by you, so you have to maintain positive thoughts. Smile that you’re alive and healthy and worry about getting fit again.”
However, now that he’s back playing regular first team football again, fresh challenges are beginning to arise, most notably that of adjusting to the rigours Championship football.
“It’s physical, a lot more physical than I thought it would be,” Paterson said.
“Everyone is bigger, faster and stronger. I’m fitting in so far and hopefully I can kick on. When you’re lining up at corners it’s a bit different as well, people are taller than me and better than me in the air.
“It’s a bit different but it’s good to welcome a new challenge.”