Popular Sheffield Wednesday man who passed-up transfer hopes new status can end 33-month shut-out

The Edinburgh-born utility man is in his fourth season with the Owls having signed a new contract this summer, passing-up sustained interest from his first club Hearts in the process.

He played a memorable part in their promotion campaign and is now a Championship player once more, adding the most recent of 113 appearances at second tier level to his CV at Hull City on Saturday.

A proud Scot, 28-year-old Paterson was last picked for his country in November 2020, coming off the bench in their historic play-off penalty shootout win over Serbia before acting as an unused substitute in a Nations League draw with Slovakia.

Both he and Wednesday teammate Liam Palmer have watched on as Scotland went about their European Championships campaign in 2021 despite having played their part in qualifying.

And while Paterson’s central focus is on the fortunes of Sheffield Wednesday, he has firm hopes of adding to his 17 international caps.

Asked whether he feels Championship status offers a better platform to wrestle his way back into Steve Clarke’s squad, he told The Star: “Of course it’s a better platform, but it’s part and parcel of football - if I don’t get picked, I don’t get picked.

“I’ve just got to go ahead and do what I do, hopefully that’s enough to catch the eye and get back into the squad.

“I’ve always said whenever I’ve been asked, for me it’s the pinnacle of their football career. Playing for your country is the biggest thing you can achieve and it was for me.”

An incredibly versatile player capable of playing in a wide range of positions and roles, Paterson spoke about the indications he has had from the new coaching set-up at Hillsborough that he will be used mainly as a right-back this season.

Scotland are well-stocked in that position - Arsenal man Kieran Tierney has played there in recent months, while Everton’s Nathan Patterson and Brentford’s Aaron Hickey have been preferred options - but Paterson has hope he can offer form to get back in.

“Hopefully it’s not a thing of the past and I can maybe sneak back in there now. But they’ve got good players in the squad, especially in the right-back position but hopefully I can bide my time and hopefully I can impress enough again.

“You’ve got your regulars that are always in the squad and then there are people like me on the outskirts that are biding their time hoping to get back in and giving it their all every week to try to get back in.

“I’ll carry on doing my job to the best of my ability and hopefully it works.”