Rangers star Nathan Patterson has counted the cost of a major off-field controversy amid award season as Scottish Premiership rival Josh Doig is named the Football Writers’ Young Player of the Year.
Hibs teenager Doig has had a breakthrough campaign at Easter Road and made a major contribution to the Edinburgh club’s season from left-back.
A talented kid who has caught the eye of plenty this season, 18-year-old Doig could see the Hibees finish third and potentially secure a Scottish Cup to go with it.
Doig was certainly the favourite for the award and he pipped the likes of Rangers kid Nathan Patterson, Celtic midfielder David Turnbull and Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson to pick up the gong.
Rangers star Patterson was nominated for the award despite the fact he is currently serving a six-match ban for breaching covid-19 protocols.
The Ibrox right-back was caught up in the controversy back in February but still managed to deputise more than effectively for Rangers captain James Tavernier.
Patterson’s explosive early form not only had him in the Young Player of the Year running but the Gers Academy kid has also been mooted as a potential Scotland cap ahead of Euro 2020.
However, for all the progress made by Patterson this season his Covid-19 breach and end of campaign ban appear to have counted against him in the awards running.
Rangers star Patterson remains an outside bet for a place in Scotland’s Euros squad but news of extra spaces opening up for Steve Clarke will have some optimistic he’ll make the cut.
