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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ian Mitchelmore

Jamie Paterson training with youth team as QPR, Blackburn and Huddersfield target Swansea City star

Jamie Paterson is set to return to training with Swansea City's Under-23s today.

The attacker had been absent from the club's Fairwood training complex owing to a spell out with Covid-19, which resulted in him missing the 3-2 FA Cup third-round loss to Southampton.

Paterson also remains at loggerheads with the club's owners over the terms of his new contract - a situation that led the 29-year-old to making himself unavailable for Saturday's 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town at The John Smith's Stadium.

Club doctors assessed Paterson's condition on Tuesday ahead of his return to training on Wednesday.

And, after declaring that he did not feel in the right frame of mind to feature against the Terriers, he has been demoted to train with the Swans' young players upon his return to the club.

READ MORE: Liverpool to recall Rhys Williams from Swansea City as further transfer work needed

Swansea expect Paterson to leave this month, with Queens Park Rangers, Huddersfield Town and Blackburn Rovers among those interested in a move for the former Bristol City man.

However, they have left the door open for him to return to the first team, although he needs to prove his desire to stay and contribute in the way he did in the opening half of his debut season in south Wales.

Having been released by Championship rivals Bristol City following the conclusion of the 2020/21 season, Paterson was a free agent.

He became Russell Martin's first signing at Swansea and went on to score eight goals and register four assists in 22 league outings prior to Christmas.

"I'm not going to lie, over the summer was probably the worst time of my career by a country mile. I didn't know where I was going to be," Paterson said shortly after his stunning display in the 3-0 win over Cardiff City in October.

"It was a strange feeling. I got thrown a lifeline from the gaffer here. I know Luke [Williams] from Bristol City, but, to be honest with you, I didn't know where I was going to end up in the summer."

Swansea prematurely triggered the one-year extension option in Paterson's contract earlier this month, although the player was left frustrated that his terms did not improve.

And Paterson's fate now appears to be in his own hands, along with those of the interested parties who must stump up a fee if they are to take the playmaker away from south Wales before the January 31 transfer deadline.

Swansea take on Preston North End at 3pm on Saturday.

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