"A little bit unnecessary" - Coventry City, Jamie Paterson claim issued after penning short-term deal | OneFootball

Coventry City had been linked to Jamie Paterson many times in the past

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Jamie Paterson’s homecoming at Coventry City has been labelled as a “sentimental signing”, with the attacking midfield unlikely to command a regular role under Frank Lampard.

Paterson, who was born in the city, finally fulfilled a lifelong dream after the boyhood Cov fan signed at the CBS Arena last week.

The 33-year-old had trained with Lampard’s Coventry City side for a month before signing a deal until the end of the campaign, having last appeared in October 2024 for MLS outfit Charlotte FC.

Coventry City eventually sign Jamie Paterson after multiple pursuits

Coventry have long been linked with a move for Paterson, with the romantic notion of a fan playing for their boyhood club sparking rumours over the years.

Previous City boss Mike Robins admitted he would like to sign the attacker when he was at divisional rivals Swansea City in January 2023, but a move did not materialise.

After Paterson’s contract expired with American outfit Charlotte FC, the former Bristol City man asked to train with Coventry, and the veteran clearly did enough to impress Lampard and earn a deal until the end of the campaign.

Discussing the signing of Paterson, Football League World’s Cov fan pundit Chris Deez is largely positive about the move as a short-term squad filler option to give Lampard another body to work with.

Chris told FLW: “Paterson - he's a really, really good player, I’ve followed him everywhere he’s gone, I've always really liked him.

“We tried to sign him a few times in the past, I'm fairly sure Mark Robins did (try and sign him) a couple of times as well.

“Obviously, he’s Cov through and through.

“He’s a Cov kid, he’s supported the club all his life, so I'm not sure what it is that made him finally make the jump and join us.

“Maybe it’s the allure of working with Lampard, maybe being a midfield legend that he is, and a Premier League legend.”

Jamie Paterson perhaps an unneeded but luxury addition to Coventry City squad

However, whilst Chris was pleased to see Paterson finally become a Cov player, FLW’s fan pundit did question whether Paterson was actually needed at the CBS arena.

“We don’t particularly need him," Chris added.

“He’ll add good experience, he’ll help some of the younger players.

“We’ve got a couple of young wingers that are struggling to break into the team.

“Maybe that’s part of it, maybe he’ll help them on the training ground.

“He’s extremely experienced, he knows the Championship extremely well. He’s a very handy player to have coming off the bench.

“I don’t think, unless we have a really bad injury spell again, or an injury crisis, I don’t see him becoming a regular first-team player.

“I think he’ll warm the bench, he’ll come on with twenty minutes to go, here or there.

“He's a very good player. I’m not against him being here, I think it’s a little bit of a sentimental signing because he’s from Cov.

“I know he was here for pretty much a month, training with the squad.

“Lampard kept saying how much he likes him, how much he’s bringing to the training pitch, his influence and all that kind of stuff.

“A little bit unnecessary, but really, what’s the harm? I can’t imagine he’ll be one of our top earners, he was a free agent.

“He played a little bit in the MLS last season, so maybe it’s just a thing for him using us just as much as we’re using him.

“He might just want to get back up to fitness before he goes and finds his next team. He’s 33, so he’s still got a few good years

ahead of him at this level.

“I’m happy enough with it. I'm not insulted by it – it's not a bad signing by any means.”