Callum Paterson opens up on mental health struggles after ex Hearts man's first league start in a year
Callum Paterson hasn't played for Scotland in five years, but the utility man has also had a lengthy wait for another chance at Sheffield Wednesday.
The former Hearts man has clocked up over 170 games for the Owls across five seasons in South Yorkshire but admits that a lack of game time in the EFL Championship this season had taken its toll. Speaking after marking his first start in the league this season with a goal in Wednesday's 2-0 win against QPR, the 17-time cap told BBC Radio Sheffield: "It’s not fun at all really waiting around and sitting in the sidelines, sitting in the stands, not being involved in squads and things like that. But you have to bide your time and wait for your opportunity, and thankfully, I took mine when it arrived.
"I’ve got to be honest, it’s not been fun. It’s tough on the old mental health, it’s tough on my family and friends and everyone around me to see me in a bad mood all the time when I'm not getting a lot of game time and not playing. It’s difficult not being able to do my job. Thankfully, when I got my chance, I took it."
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Paterson had just played just 113 minutes in the league all season prior to his Loftus Road appearance, which also marked his first league start since December 2023, but those in the away end certainly hadn't lost any love for him. He continued: "It was good scoring anywhere, but especially scoring in front of the away fans when they have come down in their numbers and made the effort with the weather.
"The fans have seen me for years, they know what I am. They know that I’m not going to take the ball off the goalie, skin 45 players and score. They know what I am, I’m good at it, I’ve done it for years at this level and above and I’m thankful that they appreciate what I do and like my effort. It’s not up to me to decide if I start more, but I’ve put myself in the window hopefully I get some more game time."
