Everton manager David Moyes has suggested he is willing to give Nathan Patterson a chance if he can prove his fitness
David Moyes is willing to give Nathan Patterson an opportunity if the full-back can prove his fitness. The Scotland international was named on the bench for Everton’s win at Bournemouth on Tuesday.
It was his first involvement in a senior matchday squad since the home victory over Crystal Palace at the start of October.
The defender has suffered a torrid time with injuries since his move to Merseyside and his latest absence, following surgery on a groin issue, came after his pre-season was disrupted over different fitness concerns.
Those injuries have held Nathan Patterson back from making a sustained argument to become Everton’s first=choice right back. His only consistent run in the first team came under Frank Lampard and that spell, like has so often been the case for him when he has broken into the starting XI, ended with injury.
Against the backdrop of those knocks previous manager Sean Dyche and current boss Moyes have both looked elsewhere within the squad to try and address the club’s longstanding struggle at right back as Seamus Coleman has fought his own injury issues through the later years of his career.
That has included moving players out of position to fill the spot - at times even when Patterson was fit - with the likes of Ben Godfrey, Ashley Young and James Garner utilised.
Moyes has placed his faith in centre back Jake O’Brien for most of the 11 months of his second stint in charge of the Blues.
With injuries throughout the squad, however, O’Brien and Garner may be needed elsewhere - potentially opening up a route to the first team for Patterson as Moyes looks to stretch a thin squad that is dealing with injuries to Michael Keane, Merlin Rohl, Jarrad Branthwaite and Coleman.
Idrissa Gueye, who is currently suspended, will travel with Iliman Ndiaye to represent Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15, leaving Moyes with more selection issues.
Patterson was close to a loan move to Sevilla at the end of the summer transfer window and could look to find minutes elsewhere in January if he can get fit enough to launch a bid for Scotland’s World Cup.
For now, Moyes has offered signs of encouragement, however.
The Everton boss said: “If he can get himself right and playing then he’ll get an opportunity.
"We don’t have that big a squad, so opportunities will come around. We need him back and fit.”
The Blues face former Dyche and his Nottingham Forest side at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.