Martin Paterson has his eyes firmly on the MLS career arc of Bradley Wright-Phillips after joining Orlando City SC for their inaugural season in the league.
The Northern Ireland striker has arrived on an initial six-month loan from parent club Huddersfield Town in England’s Championship and is keen to re-launch his career in much the same way Wright-Phillips did with New York last year.
At 27, Paterson is the same age the Red Bulls striker was when he arrived in the USA, and the former Burnley and Stoke City forward feels he has run into a similar career roadblock, with a transfer and several loan moves failing to revive an initial spell of goal-scoring promise.
“I am 100 percent aware of what Bradley has done,” Paterson explained. “You definitely look at other people’s success and want to mirror it or do even better. Bradley’s a great example of how you can change things around. I know if I work hard and train properly, I can be a success in the same way.”
Paterson was steered toward MLS by a combination of Orlando’s Stoke connection and a feeling of being left behind by a growing youth movement among many teams outside the EPL.
“I was getting frustrated with lack of playing time,” he admitted. “Some clubs, especially in the Championship, are trying to develop younger players and, if you are at one of those clubs, you miss out on game time.
“I still consider myself young and, when my agent told me there might be an opportunity to come to Orlando, I was determined to get it done. I had known about them at Stoke as there is a big link between the two teams, so it wasn’t a tough decision.”
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The English-born goal scorer has 22 caps for Northern Ireland and is still firmly in their international plans, while he remains confident he can rediscover his goal touch.
He will likely begin behind Honduran Designated Player Bryan Rochez in the Orlando pecking order, but turned in an early marker as he scored once and drew a penalty in last week's 4-0 scrimmage win over FC Dallas. He was also a starter in the 0-0 draw on Feb. 8 vs. Toronto FC before coming off the bench to replace Rochez in Friday's 2-2 draw vs. BK Hacken.
“I know I was more than good enough to be at the level I was at in England,” Paterson added. “I haven’t had a single problem since I came here and the facilities are unbelievable, so I can’t ask for more than the opportunity I’ve got right now.”
