Jamie Paterson has opened up to media news outlet Wales On Line regards the last eighteen months or so and put his side of the story on record. It does open up more questions at times but it’s been a long time coming to hear from him, so why now ?

It is without doubt that since Jamie Paterson has been one of the reasons why Michael Duff has managed to turnaround the very poor start the Swans had to this Championship season. His performance at Plymouth in that 3-1 win was borderline man of the match stuff. In fact Jamie seems to have earned a yard of extra pace from somewhere, add to that his sublime passing to assist two Swans goals at Plymouth and you have a player reborn. Whether he or anyone else likes it though people will be questioning the timing of this upturn in form.

For us it’s a welcome sight, but there’s always doubters.

The biggest question really in all this is why Jamie behaved in the way he did when the Swans triggered his contract by twelve months without consultation and he reacted negatively as the extension didn’t include a pay rise. We covered that at the time and stand by every word of those reports, The mental health issues around Jamie which were raised by then head coach Russell Martin were met with both sympathy and raised eyebrows. We stuck to the facts we knew to the extent where when the ‘automatic’ fining structure which kicks in no matter what the circumstances was imposed on Jamie, and then revoked by the Swans we reported it because it was true.

However, in this feature by Wales on line we didn’t really hear too much on that, or at least the interview seems to confuse last January (2022) with this one just gone. When references are made to ‘last season’ that started at Rotherham and a 1-1 draw. Not the season which started with a 2-1 defeat at Blackburn. Russell Martins first season at Swansea. The season which this report in Wales on line is referencing seems to be confusing last year with last season. It should read the season before last.

It’s ambiguous at best. Is the writer just mentioning last season because it isn’t that clear ? Plus, really there’s no story there. Last season and the one before seem to be blended in to one. The point of this report though isn’t affected, the real driver is mental health awareness.

In any event for clarity on our reporting of the time - click on the report below and then click on the links within that report. It may help those not so familiar with Jamie’s Swansea history. It may read to some we have been harsh on him at times, it isn’t meant to disturb his healing process with the Swansea supporters base, who we can assure you in the main at the time were extremely venomous. Well, at least behind the protection of social media.

We put our names to everything we write and always offer contact details.

Start here —> ⚽️ Jamie Paterson

Either way Jamie does clarify certain points. On the issues of last season he said. "When you're fit and you've got that confidence and the hunger to do it, and you're in a good place mentally, there's no better place to be as a footballer. I'm just really enjoying it." ( WOL added ) Fitness, Paterson insists, was the key reason factor behind his struggles last season. A niggling groin injury, picked up in the summer proved problematic in the early part of the last campaign, and several setbacks on his road to recovery restricted his game-time. Paterson states. “It was difficult last season, because I was injured for about four or five months," he adds. "I wasn't training. The conditioning side of things became difficult. I came back in and we went on a good run towards the end of the season, but I still wasn't 100 per cent”

If it was just injury, and Paterson doesn’t dwell at all on his absence from the first team, his contract or exile, self imposed or otherwise then why the mention of mental health issues which were very evident in Russell Martin’s press calls of the time. Or are we not even in that space ? They were indeed referenced after Jamie returned to first team selection in February 2022. The timing of that as well was cause for more speculation. We know for a fact that clubs came in for him in January 2022 and there was interest this year too. Of course we know for a fact Jamie is aware of them. It’s his prerogative to mention things as he see’s them but as he goes on to say - was it really just Twitter rumours ? Jamie responded. "It was all just stupid Twitter rumours that everyone just jumps on," he explains. "I think sometimes two and two get put together. I'm injured in January and people perhaps don't think you are injured. I don't know. But once a rumour does come out, clubs do actually start getting interested. It just becomes a farce. Naturally, teams will be interested in players they think are not wanted at their club. Whether or not that's true, clubs will still try it. It's just the way it is."

Well, clubs don’t just become interested because of Twitter rumours, clubs become interested when you advise your agent, in this case Unique Sports Group of your desire to leave a club and find a new one. Those that read the Indy will know we have numerous contacts and helpful associates within the football agent field, and we will leave it there, but our features are easily traced on here.

That’s sort of where that issue of Jamie not playing, and why from his point of view is put to bed in this interview.

Let’s have a look at the BBC report which followed our report on Jamie Paterson on Jan 16th 2022.
Jamie Paterson was not involved in Swansea City's draw at Huddersfield Town on Saturday because he has told the club he is not in the right frame of mind to play. BBC Wales Sport understands Paterson, 30, is not happy with his contract situation. The forward has been one of Swansea's star performers this season, scoring eight goals in 21 appearances. But there are now doubts over his future at the Championship club. Swansea are not commenting on the situation, while BBC Sport Wales has contacted Paterson's representatives, Unique Sports Group, for comment. Paterson was a free agent when Swansea signed him in August 2021 him on an initial one-year deal, which included the option of an extra year

That information we firmed up through tried and tested sources, as did the BBC. It’s a shame it has to be highlighted. We feel very strongly about this when first of all mental health is used as an excuse for a player not being selected, and then when he has the opportunity to speak about it. There’s no mention. He just responds. "We know what happened before with all that sort of stuff. I don't even wanna talk about that because it's boring. But I've always wanted to stay at this club. I've never wanted to leave this club. No matter how anyone else has spun it. That's the truth”

If there were mental health issues as cited by the club in 2022 and confirmed by his head coach now would have been a very good time to mention them ? We understand fully that it’s everyone’s prerogative to remain silent on their own personal experiences, but there’s no value in stating something which is only vaguely true to skirt around it. Just don’t mention it at all.

Like every Swans supporting outlet and every follower of our club we really want the very best for the players, the staff and everyone connected to it. Based on that here’s Jamie’s final offering. “For me, I just want to enjoy my football every game, and play football. I want to enjoy being injury-free, and whatever happens there is up to them. They can crack on and have those conversations. But for me, it's about playing, winning every game and trying to get this team back to where I think it deserves to be, in the top league”

Hear hear Jamie. So let’s do it then, And as you say leave all the boring stuff behind, no matter who actually created it …

If you need to talk to someone regards any issue that is causing you concern or distress Call 0800 132 737 or text 'help' to 81066. For information on types of mental health problems, where to get help, medication, alternative treatments and advocacy. Call 0300 123 3393, email info@mind.org.uk or text 86463.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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