When Ottawa Fury FC first introduced Nicki Paterson as the new professional squad's first-ever signing in November, it seemed likely the Scottish midfielder would become a fan favourite.

That will likely still happen, it has just taken a lot longer than planned to get Paterson his first chance to win over the home crowd after he went down with a knee injury just one road game into Fury FC's first season.

Paterson, now recovered from the only long-term injury of his career, is finally nearing a return to the lineup after getting in his first full practice with the squad since April.

Paterson broke into a smile when asked how it felt to take part in a full training session with his teammates Monday.

"It's about time, isn't it?" he said. "It's been tough, it's been a long time but it feels great to be getting close."

Up until he went down awkwardly on the rock-hard turf at Carleton University, Paterson had been lucky in his career when it came to injuries.

"I've had bumps and bruises like anyone else, but that's about it," he said.

Paterson had a setback a few weeks ago which forced him to ramp down his rehab efforts, but he credits the team's training staff -- notably head of human performance and fitness coach Kyle Thorne and athletic therapist Mel Fiala -- for getting him back into shape once the extent of his injury was determined.

"It's been frustrating but to be fair, we put a timetable in place of six to eight weeks (after the setback) and that's right where we are," Paterson said.

It would be fitting for Paterson, a native of Motherwell, Scotland, to make his debut against the Glasgow-based Rangers FC, which visits TD Place for a friendly against Fury Wednesday night.

Fury coach Marc Dos Santos, who said getting Paterson back into the lineup is "very important", said it's very possible Paterson could make his home debut Wednesday.

"It's going to be pretty much to him to decide and how he feels," Dos Santos said Monday. "If he tells us he (wants) minutes we'll give him minutes."

There's little doubt what Paterson will tell the coaches ahead of the friendly.

"It's up to Marc," he said. "Obviously, I'm going to say I'm ready to go."

With captain Richie Ryan leading an already powerful midfield that includes Tony Donatelli and Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Paterson's return will be another important weapon in Dos Santos' arsenal.

"We need him on the field," he said. "It's another great option and great solution."

CHANCES BUT NO GOALS

Dos Santos isn't planning to do anything drastic to stimulate an offense that has just one goal in the last four matches.

There has been no shortage of chances for the Ottawa side, he said, and he believes the goals will come.

"It's confidence," Dos Santos said. "I would be doing significant things if we don't create (chances)," he said. "In soccer, when you don't create, then you're concerned.

"When you create a lot and you're not able to finish, well, it's repetition and work in training."

Dos Santos quickly rattled off a half dozen of his team's scoring chances in its 1-0 loss to New York Sunday, including two by striker Tommy Heinemann in the first half and others by Ubiparipovic, Vini Dantas and Carl Haworth.

"At the end of the day you say you created so it's not a tactical problem, it's a finishing problem that at training we'll repeat more and more," he said.

SIDELINES

Heard from a few of #FuryFC's most passionate supporters they had to deal with a some people telling them to tone it down during the match. Yikes. Soccer has a different kind of fan culture -- a noisier, more colourful and drum-banging loud one - that will take some time to catch on with people ... The players who saw action Sunday didn't train on the pitch Monday morning, so it was a small group led through warmups and a short scrimmage by assistant coach Martin Nash and technical director Phil Dos Santos ... Ottawa will be again without defender Ryan Richter, on loan from Toronto FC, for Wednesday's friendly. Richter was suspended from Sunday's match after being shown two yellow cards in the previous game. He's expected to travel to Toronto to suit up for TFC's own friendly against English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur Wednesday night. "It's too bad he has to go (but) it's things that we knew would be a challenge on a loan," said Dos Santos ... With no limit on substitutions during Wednesday's friendly, Fury goalkeepers Marcel DeBellis, Chad Bush and recent signing Romuald Peiser could all get some playing time, as will the rest of the squad not in the starting 11.

chris.hofley@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @chrishofley