Ex-Rangers talent drools over Ibrox starlet who chiefs ‘really rate’
Zak Rudden has tipped fellow Rangers academy prospect Nathan Patterson to achieve big things in a Light Blue shirt.
The teenage striker left Ibrox earlier this week to join Partick Thistle on a permanent deal, while the full-back made his senior bow for the Gers in their Scottish Cup win over Stranraer on Friday night.
But despite their diverging paths, Rudden has still taken the time to shed some light on just how impressive his former teammate is.
Speaking to The Athletic, he said: “I think Nathan has a lot of potential. I think he could go far in his career as he’s calm and composed.
“The staff at Rangers really rate him. He would come up and play with us when I was at under-17 level and they’d throw him in at left-back and he’d cope with it perfectly fine. I always knew that there was something in him that could make a player.
“His best attribute is getting forward as he can glide past people for fun. It’s as if they’re not there the way he skips past them. As a striker I thought he was good at crossing well and I think his defending is strong as well so there’s not much you can say is wrong with him.
“But he hasn’t came up against a top player yet so you don’t know how he’ll cope with the physicality until then. He’s slim but he’s actually really strong.”
What does this say about Patterson?
At the end of the day, few people will know Patterson better than somebody who spent an awful lot of time making his way through the ranks of the Gers’ academy with him.
Rudden has no obligation to talk up the defender now that he has left Ibrox, and you get the distinct impression that he is being entirely sincere here.
Moreover, if supporters needed any proof of how good the youngster is, they need only have watched him against Stranraer yesterday.
He looked entirely comfortable amongst his senior peers, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him given more chances before this season is out, especially with James Tavernier facing a spell on the touchline, as per the Scottish Sun.
In other news, English boss confirms approach for senior Rangers ace, outlines potential issue.