Paterson suffered the triple fracture during Scotland's victory over Samoa on June 4 but was unable to travel until the injury had sufficiently healed.

Although he is disappointed at having to leave the tour, Paterson admitted at the airport that staying around the hotel as a hanger-on was doing neither him nor the team any good in the build-up to Saturday's second Test against Australia.

"It is disappointing to have to leave the tour," Paterson said.

"Obviously I would like to have stayed and been in a position where I could play,'' he said.

"When that is not the case I am probably better off out of the way because the players are preparing for a Test match and I don't really have a role to play so it is not ideal for them or for me.

"It is horrible to be going home but I have had a week or so to accept that this tour was over for me and I am already pretty focused on getting home, having a good rest after a long season and then coming back fully fit for the start of next season.''

Paterson had to remain in Sydney last weekend when the squad flew to Melbourne for the first Test against the Wallabies, in which they put up a credible performance before two late tries gave Australia a flattering 35-15 victory.

In that game, Hugo Southwell, Paterson's replacement at fullback, was composed in defence and made a series of crunching, try-saving tackles.

Less than a year after being released by Worcester, Southwell is now putting pressure on one of Scotland's most experienced players.

"I thought Hugo was excellent, but to be honest that was no great surprise to me,'' said Paterson, Southwell's team-mate at Edinburgh.

"It was great for him to get his chance.

"It has increased the competition but I have got to know him pretty well in the last season at Edinburgh and I knew the competition was there already.

"It's definitely a good thing for Scotland," he added.