Ex-Celtic striker Simon Donnelly has leapt to the defence of Rangers Academy graduate Nathan Patterson.
The young Scotland international right-back, 22, has come under fire from his own Tartan Army “fans” in the wake of the nation’s poor run of form.
Scotland succumbed to a 1-0 Hampden defeat against a spirited Northern Ireland side with Everton right-back Nathan Patterson gifting Liverpool counterpart Connor Bradley the ball before the teenager bent home the eventual winner.
This is after Patterson played 73 minutes in Scotland’s 4-0 hammering at the hands of the Netherlands.
It’s a situation which has brought into sharp focus the intensified criticism of Scotland players associated with Rangers.
Nathan Patterson joins John Souttar and Ryan Jack in being slaughtered from predictable voices in the Scotland support but now Simon Donnelly has come out fighting his corner.
Simon Donnelly backing Nathan Patterson
With plenty of Celtic-minded Scotland fans taking any opportunity to lambast a Rangers-minded Scotland player, it might be a surprise to see an ex-Parkhead star leap to the kid’s defence.
Former Scotland striker Donnelly is adamant that Nathan Patterson will bounce back from the boos – even if the right-back isn’t getting enough minutes for Everton.
Speaking to Clyde Superscoreboard as Scotland’s winless run stretches to seven games, Donnelly launched a staunch defence of the ex-Rangers kid.
“I’m not going to jump on the (bandwagon),” said Simon Donnelly.
“The boy (Nathan) Patterson had a couple of difficult games there. We all have them. He’ll come back.”
Later in the show, Donnelly added: “I think the case with (Scott) McTominay, he doesn’t play every game but he plays a reasonable amount of games with Manchester United.
“If people were throwing that criticism, he gets enough minutes I think to come in and be effective.
“Lyndon Dykes and (Nathan) Patterson, certainly Patterson, is not getting enough time at Everton.
“I think that’s maybe where Steve Clarke’s thought ‘I’ll give the kid the minutes in the two games’ but it’s sometimes difficult when you’ve not been playing week-in, week-out.”
Scotland talent at centre of Rangers Celtic infighting
Scotland are certainly in a tense moment leading up to Euro 2024 and as Steve Clarke’s side stutter, the increasingly vocal Celtic element of the Tartan Army support are getting frustrated.
A lack of unity is not just endemic in the Scottish national team, but in Scottish society, and unfortunately the men’s side is routinely used as a vessel for politics and not just football.
It’s led to a split between many fans – although not all of them – and a suggestion that Rangers connected players often feel the brunt of an anti-Ibrox sentiment amongst certain sections of the Tartan Army support.
With Celtic right-back Anthony Ralston propping up the squad, the Nathan Patterson criticism is an at-times transparent attempt from Celtic fans who’re tribally fighting their own player’s corner.
That’s fine – we do it too – but it’s refreshing to see Simon Donnelly stand up for ex-Ibrox star Nathan Patterson here.
The £16m right-back is undoubtedly the nation’s most talented option in this position and as he struggles for Premier League minutes at Everton, it appears the kid is an easy scapegoat.
Whilst some of the criticism is undoubtedly merited, there’s plenty who feel it’s got about as much to do with Patterson’s form as it does with his off-field loyalties.
