Pato moves to Orlando

Last updated : 27 January 2015 By Tony Scholes

The MLS has now given clearance for him to sign a loan deal which will run until the end of his Huddersfield contract on 30th June this year and he's then expected to sign a full time deal with the club.

It brings to an end what has been a difficult time for him at Leeds Road, just as former Burnley team mate David Edgar has moved in on loan from Birmingham.

Paterson opted to turn down a contract offer at Burnley at the end of the 2012/13 season to sign a two year deal with Huddersfield, citing his preference for playing in a central role which had not always been the case at Turf Moor.

However, things didn't go well for him from the start. He didn't score his first goal until November and soon after lost his place in the side after an incident on the training ground. He did fight his way back and over the Christmas and New Year period netted five times in four games, including a brace at the Turf in our New Year's Day 3-2 win against them.

Those five goals proved to be his last for them and he ended last season with a disappointing loan spell at Bristol City where he scored just once in eight appearances.

Injury delayed his start to this season but, once fit, he featured only three times as a substitute for new manager Chris Powell, those appearances giving him just ten minutes on the pitch. Another loan, this time to play for Graham Alexander at Fleetwood, was cut short after just three appearances because of another injury.

Yesterday, Powell said: "Martin is a senior player and wants to be playing regularly at this stage in his life, which is something I cannot offer him at this club. As a result, this move is a good one for everyone involved.

"Moving on to Orlando is a great opportunity for Martin and his family, so on behalf of the club I'd like to wish him well. He's a great lad."

Orlando are managed by former Burnley player and manager Adrian Heath who said: "We're very pleased to have him with the club for our first season in MLS."

He'll be best remembered by Burnley fans for his contribution in our promotion season of 2008/09, the first of his five seasons at Turf Moor. He scored 12 league goals as the Clarets qualified for the end of season play-offs and then scored the goal of his life to ease many of our nerves at Reading in the second leg of the semi-final, surely his best ever goal in Burnley colours.

It was sad to see injuries take over but he did have an outstanding end to our last season in the Premier League, despite the results, probably the best football he played at Burnley before the long standing injury kicked in.

I'm sure Burnley fans will wish him the very best in America for Orlando City's first season in the MLS.