Callum Paterson, the Hearts youngster, has thanked Gordon Strachan for lifting him out of the doldrums following his red card against Hibernian.
Callum Paterson, the Hearts youngster, has thanked Gordon Strachan for lifting him out of the doldrums following his red card against Hibernian.
The 20-year-old was dismissed for scything down Dominique Malonga during October's fiery 1-1 draw between the Edinburgh rivals and Paterson admits he was at a low ebb following the dismissal.
His mood was soon lifted when Strachan brought him into the senior Scotland set-up to replace Phil Bardsley for the game against Republic of Ireland and England and, even though Strachan, a boyhood Hibernian supporter, was quick to mention the red card at Easter Road, Paterson says the recognition put a spring back in his step.
The attacking full-back said: "The call-up was the last thing I was expecting after getting a red card at Easter Road. I was beating myself up about it afterwards; I just couldn't get it out of my head.
"So to then get a phone call from Gordon Strachan really picked helped me get back on my feet. He actually asked me what had been going through my head against Hibs! I said it was red mist.
"I'm thankful to everyone who made it such a good experience. I learned massive amounts about the way certain people train and how they play, you can see the difference in the English Premier League boys.
"The players are bigger, fitter and just more professional in the way they go about the game. It's what everyone needs to look up to and aspire to."
Paterson was named on the bench for the 3-1 defeat by England and has described the thrill of seeing his name on the back of a Scotland jersey hanging inside the Celtic Park dressing-room. The occasion was even more poignant for the youngster, as he was born in London before having moved north of the border at the age of three. As the son of Zimbabwean mother, with a South African grandfather, Paterson has no shortage of options for his future international career but his heart is set on representing Scotland.
He continued: "I didn't know I would be on the bench for England until we got to the game. I was expecting to be in the background but, when I walked in, my strip was hanging up. That was a massive buzz.
"Just being there, singing the national anthem and wearing the strip was massive. Hopefully I can go one better next time and get on the pitch.
"I was born in London but I moved up when I was three so I see myself as Scottish. So to be involved against England, where I was born, for my own country meant a lot.
"I actually had four choices: my dad is Scottish, my mum is from Zimbabwe and my granddad is South African. I could play for all of those nations but Scotland is my home and who I would rather play for."
Paterson is expected to start at right-back for Hearts this afternoon as they look to bounce back from a 4-0 defeat by Celtic in the Scottish Cup last weekend and consolidate their place at the top of the Championship. Paterson added: "Results have gone well for us so far in the league. We are playing well and scoring goals. The Celtic result won't affect that. If anything it will make us more focused on winning the league."
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