Everton's Nathan Patterson is hoping to play for Scotland at Hill Dickinson Stadium to boost his chances of making their World Cup squad
Nathan Patterson has only started one Premier League game at Hill Dickinson Stadium but he’s hoping to use Everton’s new home as the springboard to his World Cup dreams with Scotland.
With the Tartan Army heading to the finals for the first time in 24-year-old Patterson’s lifetime – they last qualified for the tournament in 1998, over three years before he was born – the Blues’ right-back is determined to force is way onto the plane to the USA this summer. Scotland have two group games in Foxborough, Massachusetts, against Haiti and Morocco before a showdown with five-times winners Brazil in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Before then, they continue their warm-up for the competition with a brace of friendlies over the coming week, hosting Japan at Hampden Park on Saturday before travelling to Liverpool on Tuesday to take on Ivory Coast at Everton’s 52,769 capacity base on the Mersey waterfront. Patterson hopes to use his Euro 2024 disappointment as motivation to earn a place in Steve Clarke’s squad having missed out for the European Championships in Germany two years ago through injury.
Patterson, who has been capped 23 times but last turned out for his country as a 68th minute substitute in the 4-0 friendly win away to Liechtenstein on June 9, before missing out on the World Cup qualifiers, said: “It’s been a while. I had a few injuries and got myself sorted, but it’s nice to be back, nice to see the lads and good to get among them again.
“The disappointment not to be a part of the Euro squad and miss out through injury was obviously hard to take, but we’ve got another huge tournament in the summer. I want to make sure I’m there.
“I would have loved to be there (Euros) and be involved, but these things happen and my main aim is to make sure I’m in the squad for the World Cup. It’s nice to come away and I’ll try and get as many minutes as I can here and put in some good performances.”
While he hasn’t let anyone down when called upon, Patterson has played a mere 355 minutes (less than four full games) of first-team football for Everton this season across seven appearances with all of his outings coming in a period of just over a month between late December and the end of January. However, the player who was brought in from Rangers for £12million in January 2022 with the intention of being Seamus Coleman’s long-term successor, insists he now feels in good shape.
Patterson said: “I feel really good. I’ve come came back and I’ve played a few games for Everton and I feel really fit.
“I don’t feel as if I’m at a stage where I’m doubting my body at the minute, so I’m happy where I’m at. I think the main thing is just to be confident and go express yourself.
“You’re in the squad for a reason and it’s just about enjoying it as well. The main thing is just impress but just do it the way you do it.
“I know what I’m capable of and I know what I bring to the team.”