Everton boss David Moyes. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Everton boss David Moyes. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
David Moyes’ squad has been thin on the ground recently and yet there was still no game time for a forgotten international player.
Only a couple of weeks ago there were murmurs that Everton were looking over their shoulder and that David Moyes’ position as manager was being considered.
Fast forward to a run of four wins in five games and the Toffees are sitting in the lofty position of seventh in the Premier League, two points off fourth, with every chance of pushing for European football and even the Champions League. The veteran boss will need to get lucky with injuries given the size of his squad, but recent weeks have shown how mentality and versatility are two key components of his current squad.
David Moyes comments are bad news for forgotten Everton star
Moyes was happy with his midfield’s performance against Forest, however, his post-match comments are bad news for one member of his Everton squad, via the club’s official website: “If Michael wasn't fit today we would have been really struggling to fill the midfield so it was great to have him out there. It allowed Jimmy to go into midfield along with Kiernan which gave us solidity there.
“We were annoyed about that. I just didn't think it was like Everton. It wasn't the way we do things. We've actually started the two games recently pretty well, so we hope we can continue getting that goal early. It was only when I came in after the game that I realised Kiernan didn’t score the opener. I was thinking Kiernan had two goals today!”
Time for Nathan Patterson to leave Everton
It shows how far Nathan Patterson’s stock has fallen that Moyes would rather play Jake O’Brien and James Garner out of position than turn to the Scotland international. Had Michael Keane not made the game against Forest, Garner could still have played in midfield but with Patterson at right-back and O’Brien staying in the middle, where he performed so well against Bournemouth. The £16m signing’s time on Merseyside is surely coming to an end.
To make matters worse, if Seamus Coleman was fit, Patterson would be even further down the pecking order and unlikely to make the bench.
With the game at 3-0, Moyes could easily have given the 24-year old minutes to improve his fitness, he didn’t, and with a World Cup on the horizon, the former Rangers right-back will be looking to leave Everton to get more regular game time and improve his chances of being on the plane with the rest of the Scotland squad.
After all, getting to a World Cup could be a once in a lifetime opportunity given that it was 27 years since they last qualified. Moyes though, appears impervious to his compatriot’s hopes and dreams.
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