The defender played twice for Scotland over the past fortnight but has struggled for minutes at Everton, something he hopes he can change
Nathan Patterson of Everton and Scotland reacts after an international friendly match between Scotland and Ivory Coast at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Nathan Patterson of Everton and Scotland reacts after an international friendly match between Scotland and Ivory Coast at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
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Nathan Patterson has not given up on playing more minutes for Everton despite struggling for opportunities in recent months.
The 24-year-old has missed swathes of the season with injury - the most recent problem being a hernia issue across October and November. He overcame that and helped the first team during the selection crisis of the festive season.
He produced several promising displays in that run, starting in the hard-fought wins at Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa either side of the new year, as well as in the home draw with Leeds United. Yet they were not enough for him to keep his place in David Moyes’ team.
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Patterson’s place in Scotland’s World Cup squad appears assured but he is eager for more minutes ahead of the summer. After playing in both of Scotland’s friendlies over the past fortnight, he told the Daily Record: “We just kind of speak and he [international manager, Steve Clarke] says I need to try and get as many games as I can and all that. But I can only do what I can do, train well, and when I get the opportunities, do well. And I’ve done that this season.
“I can only focus on myself. I can’t worry just now. I’ve got to go back to club level and hopefully I can play as many games as I possibly can. Of course, it’s nice to get back on the pitch again, get some minutes under my belt, and I felt really good.”
Patterson’s struggle for minutes has been particularly notable given Everton’s long-term issues at right back. The club has attempted to address that over recent transfer windows and came close to signing Kenny Tete last summer, only for him to sign fresh terms with Fulham.
Patterson has endured a nightmare run of injuries since signing from Rangers in January 2022, enough for concerns over his durability to be understandable. But he has been available since the turn of the year only for Moyes to prefer centre back Jake O’Brien and central midfielder James Garner on the right of the defence.
Against that backdrop, his minutes for Scotland - he started against Japan and came off the bench against Ivory Coast, a game played at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium - were a useful opportunity to get on the pitch. He said: “It was a nice experience. It was good to hear some of our fans here as well, It was nice to have a home feel.
“The boys were asking me during the week what it’s like, and everyone was really surprised and taken aback by how good the facilities were, and yeah, that’s what we get every week, so it’s nice for everyone else to see it.
“It was positive. It’s good to get on the pitch and get two more caps, reaching, I think it was 25, so I’m delighted with that. It was obviously nice to get on. You want to play as many minutes as you can, and I got the nod and I was delighted with how I done myself.”
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