The Scotland experience helping Callum Paterson in 'emergency' Cardiff City role
By Dominic Booth
Friday 9th November 2018
Paterson looks set to continue in a lone striker role against Brighton this weekend
Alex McLeish has revealed Callum Paterson could operate in an advanced role for Scotland over the upcoming international break having performed admirably in the position for Cardiff City.
The Bluebirds have desperately struggled for goals this term, and Neil Warnock has turned to Paterson to help increase his side's threat at the business end of the pitch.
Paterson — who netted in back-to-back games against Fulham and Liverpool last month — looks set to lead the line once again for Cardiff when they welcome Brighton to South Wales on Saturday.
Following the clash with Chris Hughton's men, Paterson will link up with his country as Scotland face a Nations League double header against Albania and Israel.
And Scotland boss McLeish admits Paterson is adapting well in the role having struggled due to a lack of service when he was deployed in an attacking role with his country earlier this year.
"Callum is very versatile. I played him as a wing-back against Costa Rica. But we felt that he has also been pretty effective middle to front in the Mexico and Peru games," said McLeish.
"He scored a lot of goals for Cardiff last year and now Warnock has done an emergency manoeuvre when he put him up front.
"He's scored a couple of goals against some big clubs over the last three or four weeks.
Callum Paterson's Cardiff City goals
Won 1-0 v Barnsley - November 21, 2017
Lost 4-2 v Fulham - December 26, 2017
Won 4-0 v Sunderland - January 13, 2018 (Two goals)
Won 4-1 v Leeds United - February 3, 2018
Won 2-1 v Barnsley - March 6, 2018
Won 3-2 v Birmingham City - March 10, 2018
Won 3-1 v Brentford - March 13, 2018
Won 3-1 v Burton Albion - March 30, 2018
Lost 3-1 v Derby County - April 24, 2018
Won 4-2 v Fulham - October 20, 2018
Lost 4-1 v Liverpool - October 27, 2018
Total appearances: 45; Goals: 12 (all competitions)
"So he's a bit of a threat. He's a versatile player and worthy of being in the squad.
"It gives us options. We played him in an attacking role in Mexico but didn't give him the service that I think he would have appreciated.
"So that's something we will have to tactically work on if he was coming into a forward area.
"But he's been very effective in the middle to front area for well over a season now."
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.