Rangers youngster Nathan Patterson has admitted that he wants to be just like Celtic’s Jeremie Frimpong.
Patterson made his Rangers debut in their 2-0 win against Stranraer on Friday night. However, it would appear that it’s Frimpong over James Tavernier when it comes to players he’s looking up to.
Frimpong made his Celtic debut in September’s 5-0 win over Partick Thistle. Since then he’s gone on to win his first medal in football in the Betfred Cup, and has also experienced games against the likes of Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian, and Hearts respectively. He’ll also likely get his first taste of European football next month against Copenhagen.
And Patterson has recognised that Frimpong’s breakthrough is what it should all be about for youngsters. Speaking in the Scotsman, the Rangers man openly admitted he wants to be just like our young starlet.
“I just want to be like him basically – to be playing in cup finals and big-pressure games. That is what you want – to be playing in great games.
“He plays with a smile on his face and that is the best way to be. Pressure is good. You just need to take that pressure into a game and perform.
“I feel I’m ready to play in league games now. I have just played in front of 40,000. I am getting used to the pressure of playing in front of so many fans. I just want to keep going.”
Refreshingly honest comments from Patterson
When you look at it at face value, of course Patterson should be looking up to our man. That should go without saying. Frimpong has achieved what he’s only dreaming of at the moment.
You have to give credit to the Rangers youngster here though. It’s easy to get caught up in the tribal atmosphere in Glasgow. Having the nerve to actually say you want to be just like a rival player takes some guts. But he’s spot on to say so.
Celtic fans won’t particularly care about Patterson’s development of course. That’s for the other side to worry about, but it just shows you the impact that Frimpong has made. Patterson won’t be the only rival player to be looking up to him.
Overall, Frimpong has played 18 times for Celtic this season (Transfermarkt). That’s despite arriving in the summer as our third-choice. His rise has been freakishly meteoric.
That’s not to say he hasn’t had his knocks in the senior game either. Sure, he’s had plenty of eye-catching performances thanks to his pace and skill on the ball. However, he was also sent off in the Betfred Cup final and managed to give away a penalty on Saturday too – it hasn’t all been plain sailing.
But Frimpong will come out better for it. He’s learning every day and in every game at Parkhead. No wonder he’s caught the eye of rival youngsters from across the city.
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