Everton great says tournament in US is perfect platform
Nathan Patterson hasn’t played much football this season but the right-back is part of Scotland’s World Cup squad and the tournament could provide him with a useful shop window, according to Everton great Graeme Sharp.
Patterson is one of three right-backs in Steve Clarke’s squad and played the second half of last weekend’s friendly against Curacao.
The 24-year-old played just seven Premier League games for Everton this season, starting three and appearing as a late sub in the other four. Manager David Moyes preferred Jake O’Brien at right-back, limiting Patterson’s opportunities, although the Scot has also had to contend with a number of injury issues since moving to Merseyside from Rangers in January 2022 in a £12 million deal.
Scotland's Nathan Patterson with Ryan Christie at full-time after the friendly match against Curacao at Barclays Hampden, on May 30.placeholder image
Scotland's Nathan Patterson with Ryan Christie at full-time after the friendly match against Curacao at Barclays Hampden, on May 30. | SNS Group
He has been linked with a return to Ibrox, and there is a vacancy there with James Tavernier having left. Sharp believes a move could be a good option for Patterson who has accumulated 67 competitive appearances in his four-and-a-half seasons at Everton.
“He came in and he suffered a few injuries,” said Sharp, who is now an ambassador for the club and was in Scotland this week to promote Everton’s pre-season friendly against Newcastle United which is being played at Murrayfield on August 12.
Change of managers didn’t help
“We knew about him from Rangers, he's an overlapping fullback, but he's been unfortunate. The changes of managers as well haven't helped him. He's had injuries and it's been a struggle for him.”
With Patterson sidelined for much of the first half of the campaign, he wasn’t involved in Scotland’s World Cup qualifiers. But he was called up for the March friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast and did enough to convince Clarke to take him to the finals in the US.
He will vie with Aaron Hickey and Anthony Ralston for the right-back berth as Scotland face Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in the group phase and Sharp believes it could provide Patterson with a platform to .
“He'll be looking at this as an ideal opportunity to either show David Moyes he's ready to play or be in the shop window,” said the former centre-forward who helped Everton become English champions in 1985 and 1987.
International tournament experience
“I know there's been rumours about Rangers again but for Nathan, it's not been a great season for him, but what an opportunity. He could be on the sunbed somewhere; now he’s in the World Cup finals. Wow. I know what I would want to do.”
Patterson already has international tournament experience, having played for Scotland at Euro 2020 while with Rangers. He was just 19 at the time and made an appearance off the bench in the final group match against Croatia.
Scotland's Nathan Patterson and Croatia's Borna Barisic during the Euro 2020 match at Hampden Park, on June 22, 2021.placeholder image
Scotland's Nathan Patterson and Croatia's Borna Barisic during the Euro 2020 match at Hampden Park, on June 22, 2021. | SNS Group
It was a promising start to his cap career but injuries have hampered him in the years since.
“If I'm being brutally honest I think he's struggled a little bit and I don't think the injuries have helped him,” added Sharp.
“Obviously he hasn't had a continuous run in the team. The manager’s playing Jake O'Brien who's a centre back at right back and he's done well the kid so it's been hard for Nathan. But certainly the injuries haven't helped him.
“I think if he stays injury free and gets a run of games, I think he'll do okay I think he'll do all right.”