He scored 16 goals after leaving Sheffield Wednesday - 'I would have taken him' | OneFootball

The Owls briefly flirted with a reunion for the 16-goal Scotsman in the summer

Sheffield Wednesday could have brought Callum Paterson back to Hillsborough this summer, but the former Owls favourite ultimately remained at MK Dons after an impressive first season in Buckinghamshire.

Paterson left Wednesday when his contract expired in 2025, joining MK Dons after making 186 appearances for the club.

His first season away from Hillsborough proved highly productive, with the versatile Scot scoring 16 league goals and providing eight assists as MK Dons secured promotion from League Two.

Wednesday had considered bringing him back as part of their rebuild following relegation, particularly after Arise Capital’s takeover lifted the restrictions that had limited the club.

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Football League World's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit Patrick McKenna was asked whether the Owls should have made a move to bring Paterson back to Hillsborough this summer, and whether his versatility and experience could have benefited Henrik Pedersen’s side.

“In regards to Callum Patterson, yeah, I would have taken him at Hillsborough this season,” McKenna told FLW.

“That versatility and experience would have been useful,

“However, it didn't happen, so there's no regrets in that regard and we moved on and did our transfer business,

“But yeah, I think in his time at Hillsborough he was slightly underrated,

“There is a thought that you just can't consistently get the old band back together, but, you know, Bannan and James coming back so far have added something.

“So I do think Patterson could have brought something to the table, but the fact that we didn't sign him - that's fine.

“And I don't think it's something we have lived to regret.”

How Callum Paterson is getting on at MK Dons

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Paterson’s 2025/26 campaign was arguably the most productive season of his career in front of goal.

He scored 16 league goals and registered eight assists in 36 league appearances, contributing to MK Dons’ automatic promotion and earning a place in the League Two Team of the Season.

He finished the campaign as the club’s top scorer after finding the net 16 times in all competitions across 40 appearances.

His return to League One has been quieter so far. Paterson has scored once and provided one assist in seven appearances during the opening stages of the 2026/27 campaign, starting three games and playing 386 minutes.

Sheffield Wednesday have moved beyond the need for a utility man

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There is little doubt that Paterson was an effective player for Wednesday, and he was appreciated by large sections of the Hillsborough support.

His commitment and willingness to contribute wherever required made him something of a cult figure during his time with the club.

However, his role in this current Wednesday squad would much harder to define.

The Owls’ recruitment is now more strategically focused, with the emphasis on bringing in players for specific roles. There is perhaps no better comparison than Reece James - whose return addressed a clear need for depth at left-back.

Paterson did not have such an obvious opening. The forward line is already bursting with competition, while Yan Valery has remained at right-back - the position in which Paterson originally made his name. There is therefore no clear area where the Scot would immediately become a first-choice option.

That does not diminish what Paterson gave Wednesday. His 186 appearances and ability to produce important moments made him a popular figure, while his 16-goal campaign last season showed he remains capable of making a significant contribution.

But there is a difference between wanting a player back and having a defined need for them. James’ return can be viewed through the latter lens, whereas Paterson would have been another useful option rather than an obvious solution to a problem.

His return would undoubtedly have been welcomed by many supporters, but Wednesday can appreciate Paterson’s contribution while still recognising that the current squad has been built with different requirements in mind.

On the evidence of their start to the season, there is little to suggest they have been left with a significant hole by choosing not to bring him back.