Stuart Bathgate: Don’t burden Rhodes with Law comparison

FOLLOWING my colleague Glenn Gibbons’ irrefutable contention in Saturday’s Scotsman that James Forrest is not the new Jimmy Johnstone – an assertion afforded empirical proof at Celtic Park that very afternoon – I would like to point out that Jordan Rhodes is not the new Denis Law.

Lest this statement appear to have been generated at random, let us put it into context. Since the start of the season Rhodes, the Huddersfield Town striker, has put in headline-grabbing performances which are expected to culminate tomorrow when he receives his first call-up to the senior Scotland squad.

If and when the 21-year-old takes the field in the forthcoming friendly with Cyprus, he will be the first Huddersfield striker to turn out for the national team since the Law man (so called, as Only An Excuse taught us long ago, because his name was Law … and he was a man) made his debut at the tender age of 18.

And, if that comes to pass, especially if Rhodes scores, it will be only a matter of time before he is being hailed, at least in some quarters, as the new Law. Which is something to be avoided, not only because Law’s quality as a player is unlikely to be emulated any time soon, but also because Rhodes could do without such a burden.

The son of Dunfermline and St Johnstone goalkeeper Andy Rhodes, Jordan was born in Oldham and qualifies for Scotland through residence while at school. He has attracted admiration over the past couple of seasons, has made nearly 100 appearances for Huddersfield, and made his Scotland Under-21 debut in March.

He’s a good player, may well become a whole lot better before he reaches his prime, and he deserves a degree of gratitude for opting to throw in his lot with us. What he does not deserve is the pressure of being labelled the new Denis Law.

Indeed, if it were at all possible, we should pass a unanimous resolution as a nation to refrain from labelling any promising young player as the reincarnation of any great name. As well as being unfair on them, it will only render our own disappointment all the greater when, inevitably, they fail to live up to their grandiose billing.