Everton are sweating over the fitness of full-back Nathan Patterson ahead of their Premier League opener with Leeds United. The Scotland international was absent from the Toffees recent friendly with Manchester United due to an injury.
Patterson will be assessed by Everton's medical team when they return to Merseyside following their pre-season tour of America. Boss David Moyes said: “He [Patterson] has got hernia symptoms. Whether or not he has a hernia, we will have to assess when we get back on Tuesday.”
With the new season fast approaching, Moyes hopes to add to his Toffees squad this week. Everton, who finished 13th last term, have added three fresh faces thus far, with Thierno Barry (Villarreal), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth) and Adam Aznou (Bayern Munich) arriving while Charly Alcaraz’s loan deal was made permanent. They recently had a £27m bid rejected for Southampton star Tyler Dibling.
"I think we are getting much closer (to deals)," said Moyes. "I have got to say, I thought that four or five weeks ago, as well. But, obviously, we are getting near the tickly bits and have got to get some things done.
“We know we have to make several additions and we know that. Even for the numbers and we might have people in the squad where we put them out on loan or other things.
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"We are needing, generally, to add to the squad and need to get some of the main players in quickly. I have been saying it from near enough when we finished against Newcastle United that we have to get it done. I generally feel we should be further down but, in the main, it looks as if we’re getting closer and hopefully a few things might come to fruition this week.
“If I didn’t, I’d have to be confident of what we have got and getting results. But it’s not that easy in the Premier League. You can see that we need a lot. We have got a lot of things we have to do to get better.”
Everton visit Elland Road for their opening Premier League clash in two weeks time.
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