Phil SumblerWith three clubs – Queens Park Rangers, Huddersfield and Blackburn Rovers – all watching events involving Jamie Paterson closely there is certainly a ray of light at the end of the tunnel that suggests he could stay at Swansea beyond the closure of the transfer window.
It has been quite a week as far as events surrounding Pato is concerned. First he was absent from the draw at Huddersfield last Saturday with illness cited as the reason but just 24 hours later the press were given the information that the contract extension was in dispute and he had refused to play for the club.
The reports stated that Paterson had said he was “not in the right frame of mind” and certainly the immediate suggestions everywhere was that he had probably played his last game for Swansea City.
By Monday we were speculating (and it could never be any more) that there were three sides to every story – in this instance, the club’s, Pato’s and then the truth. Neither party was speaking up, Pato was still absent from training and we still believed he had played his last game for the club.
By midweek, Pato was back. It was reported he was training with the Under-23’s and we awaited the words of Russell Martin as he prepared to speak to the press ahead of the home game against Preston North End. The fans certainly wanted him out – his supporters on social media were very few in number – but the manager appeared to have a different idea.
“I genuinely feel he’s hurting. It’s hurting us and me because I love the kid,” he said.
“He’s really found somewhere that he feels happy.
“Since then, it’s been put into his mind about potential other things. It’s affected him.”
They were clear words from the boss – Paterson’s head had indeed been turned by potential interest in him sparked by his excellent form in the first half of the season. The things “put into his mind” could only come from his representatives and that was having the opposite effect on the player.
It is clear that Russell Martin is a fan. Remember how he talked about how Paterson was the first player he thought of when he got the gig at Swansea City and it was just days later that Jamie arrived here.
“He’s not in the right frame of mind to be involved, and his job is to play professional football, train and be ready to be selected. He’s not there yet,” added Martin on Thursday. Words of hope to the player (and maybe to himself) that Jamie could again pull on the shirt of Swansea City.
As we alluded to earlier this week (and earlier in this article as well) none of us know what exactly the contract discussions were and who played what part but Russell Martin gave the biggest insight when he added “I don’t think he’s been given hugely supportive advice, is my honest opinion.
“I think clubs have already expressed an interest in him through his agent because of what he has done, which is no surprise to me.
“His issue was with the contract extension. Hopefully if he’s still our player in two weeks’ time when the transfer window shuts, we’ll be able to move on and he can produce what he’s already produced for us, unless something before then happens that is satisfactory for the club, the owners and Jamie.
“The minute he says he wants to come back into it and he feels right, he’ll be welcomed back.”
It is clear here that Russell Martin doesn’t believe Pato’s time here is up. Either that or he is playing a tremendous poker hand to make those potential suitors believe they won’t get him ‘on the cheap’
Nobody knows what is about to happen over the course of the next 9 days of the window but one thing feels certain and that is none of us should be surprised if Jamie Paterson is still here come February 1st. The boss would certainly like him to be.
