There was plenty of excitement around the club when Jamie Paterson was signed on a free transfer in February – the script written for a fairytale ending to the player’s career at hometown team Coventry City.
And on Wednesday night the 33-year-old realised a dream come true when he scored for his beloved boyhood club – the winner against Portsmouth and what could turn out to be a vital goal in the Sky Blues ’ quest to make the Championship play-offs.
But even before the former Bristol City and Swansea star volleyed home in spectacular style deep in stoppage time to raise the roof off the CBS Arena, Frank Lampard had already decided that Paterson has been a “great signing” for the club despite in total only making five cameo appearances from the bench, amounting to just 42 minutes of football.
So what makes him such a terrific addition to the squad?
“He’s just a good lad,” enthused Lampard. “He trains well; really dedicated – and that is non negotiable – but when players aren’t playing sometimes they can drop little bits and some young players can drop but then you say, ‘look at Pato or look at Jamie Allen when he wasn’t playing much,’ and see that professionalism.
“There’s also the fact that he is a great linker in the group. He sits on different dinner tables and he laughs and he jokes. He knows when to work and he knows when to be supportive in the dressing room, and as an all-round package he’s been a great signing for us.
“I know it’s easy to say that after that goal and the nature of it but I would have even said that before because he’s really, really good in the dressing room and has given me another option.”
Although a versatile player who can play anywhere across the midfield and forward positions, Paterson has largely been used as a late option to replace left winger Ephron Mason-Clark, as he did in the 85th minute against Pompey.
Reflecting on the reasoning behind adding another player in that department, particularly given that Haji Wright has also played a lot of games for City in that left-hand role, the head coach explained: “Around Christmas time when we had a few injuries we were short on wingers and attacking options, and there you go, that’s what we got against Portsmouth.
“Firstly, we were short in a sense, but you always want options because you know and can predict that injuries can come over a long season. But also I managed against Pato when I was at Derby and he was playing for Bristol City, and I remember analysing him and worrying about their wingers on both sides, and Pato was sharp. And when the opportunity came I looked at his record and spoke to a couple of people who had worked with him and it was all glowing.
“And his record at this level, he scores goals, and has done throughout his career so that made it an easy one. And then the Coventry link and how he feels about the club was the icing on the cake, I guess.”
For the record, Wednesday’s goal was his 49th Championship goal of his career and 83rd overall from all of his clubs and competitions at various levels.
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