Everton face Nottingham Forest at the weekend and David Moyes is going to be left with some real selection headaches.
David Moyes is dealing with a number of injuries and suspension issues on the back of a turbulent past few weeks.
The game on Tuesday evening against Bournemouth saw Tim Iroegbunam pick up his fifth yellow card of the season.
Adding to Idrissa Gana Gueye’s own suspension and Merlin Rohl’s ongoing injury issue, Moyes has been left extremely light in the middle.
James Garner played the game against Bournemouth at right-back, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall dropping into the deeper midfield role.
However, there could now be one player who may be set to play his first minutes of the season against Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest.
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Nathan Patterson could be set for first Everton appearance
Ahead of the market opening, it has been suggested that Everton are open to selling Nathan Patterson in January.
For now, the Scotland international may be needed as Everton now look to navigate their injury crisis in midfield and at right-back.
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With Patterson returning to the squad for the game against Bournemouth on Tuesday night, there may be a chance he is capable of starting on Saturday.
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It will be a big ask for the 24-year-old to be thrown into the action right from the start, but Moyes has been left with few other options.
Patterson returned to Everton training last week, but he did not feature in the matchday squad to face Newcastle United.
Nathan Patterson’s 2025/26 (Premier League & Carabao Cup) Total
Appearances 0
Minutes 0
Squad inclusions 6
Following Iroegbunam’s suspension, Garner is potentially going to have to be pushed back into his natural position against Forest.
Michael Keane missed Everton’s win through injury on Tuesday night and his fitness may prove the deciding factor as to whether Patterson gets the nod.
Nathan Patterson will have a point to prove to Sean Dyche
Last year, there was an internal altercation between Dyche and Patterson during a warm weather training camp.
Dyche played his and Patterson’s disagreement off to the media, claiming he tapped him on the head like a playful older brother.
However, it would be fair to say that Patterson did not exactly have much of an impact on the side in the months after that.
Sean Dyche should be worried ahead of Saturday’s trip to Merseyside! 😳
An overview of Sean Dyche's Premier League away record against Everton.
Credit: Getty Images/Jack Thomas.
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Last season, under Dyche, Patterson played a mere 87 minutes of Premier League football across four appearances.
Ruben Amorim thinks Dyche is a ‘very smart’ manager, but Patterson may well disagree with that notion.
If the Scotland international does play on Saturday, he may feel as if he has a point to prove towards his former manager.
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