Everton have a Nathan Patterson problem after player’s words on Scotland duty
Frank Lampard looks like he has another headache brewing at Everton after Nathan Patterson’s words on international duty with Scotland.
The £16million signing from Rangers in the January transfer window has featured for a grand total of 45 minutes against Boreham Wood under the former Chelsea man who appears not to rate him.
In one start for his national team under Steve Clarke this week (24 March) he surpassed his total of first team minutes for his club side, and the right-back has now made some comments which appear to demonstrate his displeasure at the Everton situation.
The 20-year-old said, via Football Scotland: “I have good mental resilience, I believe in myself and know what I am capable of. No one will tell me otherwise and I think that has helped me get to where I am today.
“It’s stood me in good stead so far in my career.
“I hope everyone was watching on Thursday [against Poland] – I always want people to watch me.
“Did I need this boost? Look it’s all about playing for me, it’s all I want to do.
“Any chance I get, I will do my best, and hopefully there are more opportunities to come my way.
“It was good to be back playing again, especially in front of the Scotland fans, that was a bonus.
“I’m delighted to get the nod and I did the best I could.”
Diplomatic
The young Scot is professional enough not to come out swinging and cause a full-blown row via the media.
But his comments show a player who is clearly unhappy with his lack of playing time, and who wants to make clear there should be no doubts over his mental fortitude.
A relegation battle in a new country with a new team could be seen as the wrong environment to try to settle in a young player.
But Patterson has made his case plain, he is ready.
The “no one will tell me otherwise” comment could be directed squarely at Lampard, but even if it is a more general point to media doubters, it puts the focus back onto the manager to explain virtually freezing the January arrival out.
He may have been a Rafael Benitez signing, but the options that the manager has otherwise used haven’t been setting the world alight.
Lampard’s recent comments about players “not having the [testicles]” for the challenge were about the ones he prefers to Patterson, after another heavy defeat a Crystal Palace.
Seamus Coleman may be the captain, but he is past his best and can’t perform every game.
The manager is also barely using one of his own signings, midfielder Dele Alli, and while in both cases the fault has so far been assumed to be with the players, if Lampard continues to fail to get a tune out of them, or indeed the rest of the squad, the blame will soon shift to him.
In other Everton news, one Toffee has been referred to as “lonely” by his local media on international duty.
Be sure to follow Goodison News on Facebook for 24/7 updates on Everton plus more exclusive interviews with Kevin Campbell.