Why Sheffield Wednesday forward Callum Paterson faces career-defining few weeks as he aims for 'pinnacle'

Because sat watching on in Sheffield Callum Paterson will be some 2,300 miles away from where he wants to be; playing football for Scotland in Tel Aviv.

The 26-year-old, with seven goals in all competitions the Owls’ top scorer this season, has found himself out of his national squad for the first time in two years having played a part in their qualification for this summer’s European Championships.

It will be Scotland’s first involvement in the finals of first major tournament in 23 years.

Paterson faces a race against time to get his place back and what may well sting a little more is that alongside Hibs forward Kevin Nisbet, Paterson was effectively dropped for Southampton’s Leicester-born goal-getter Che Adams, who had previously turned down the opportunity to play for Scotland.

Speaking to The Star last month, before the squad for this round of qualifiers was named, Paterson made no secret of how important the Euros are to him.

“It’s a massive part of my thinking,” he said. “I’ve always said it’s the pinnacle of all football, playing in those tournaments. For me, if that’s not what you want to do, there’s no point in playing.

“My country has finally qualified for a major tournament, with me being around. It’s a massive achievement.

“To be selected would just be the icing on the cake for me. I’ve given everything I can and it’s not up to me at the end of the day. I’ve got to do everything I can to be there.”

His Owls teammate Liam Palmer did make the squad. Asked whether the pair speak about their Scotland commitments while on duty with Wednesday, Paterson laughed.

“There are only so many players that can go, aren’t there?" he said. “We always keep ourselves ticking over and hopefully the both of us can be selected and go and represent our country.

“It’s been a long time since the group have qualified and it’s a group of boys that have been together a lot that have done it.

“That night meant a lot that night, incredible scenes. The main thing is that we qualified and now it’s about being selected.”

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