With one eye on Euro 2020 in the summer, the debate seems to be all about one Rangers star who’s barely played at Ibrox let alone on the international stage.
Nathan Patterson is a headline-maker already at 19 – for the right and wrong reasons admittedly – with the discussion over whether or not he should go with Scotland to Euro 2020 raging all around.
The talented right-back has deputised stoutly for influential Rangers captain James Tavernier and it’s very much accepted that Patterson has a future in the Scotland set-up.
But Steve Clarke’s right-back headache – concerning which two to take between Motherwell’s Stephen O’Donnell, Sheffield Wednesday’s Liam Palmer and Rangers’ Nathan Patterson – might just have been soothed by the footballing authorities.
According to a spate of reports – including from the likes of the Times – UEFA are set to increase the size of the squad country’s can take to the Championships by two spaces due to the impact the pandemic has had on players.
That will increase the number of players being made available from 23 to 25 with the pressure relieved on Steve Clarke – if only slightly – regarding who to take.
The Scotland manager strikes as the sort of individual who won’t be swayed by press influence so it’s hard to imagine a token call-up for Nathan to this summer’s tournament.
But this also means that if he does get in the squad, he’ll have done so on merit.
However whilst Scotland can be delighted to potentially have another two spaces in the team ahead of the summer’s tournament, is the right-back position a priority when you can take another striker?
There’s one man who believes Patterson should 100% be going away with Scotland this summer as a Rangers legend gives his backing to the Ibrox talent.
