Nathan Patterson must start for Scotland after impressive Everton outings
Everton defender Nathan Patterson has received a call-up to Scotland’s national team, with Steve Clarke announcing his 25-man squad.
Patterson and Scotland will face two ties against Ukraine on the 21st and 27th of September with a game against Ireland sandwiched between.
The 20-year-old has been electric for Everton so far this season and deserves to be rewarded for his stellar performances with a starting place in Clarke’s side.
The rioting right-back has nailed down a spot in Frank Lampard’s first XI this season and thoroughly impressed during the Merseyside derby in a mature and classy performance; a tough ask for a 20-year-old.
Patterson has come on leaps and bounds since making the switch from Glasgow to Goodison in a £12million deal that is looking more shrewd by the day. [Transfermarkt].
Scotland can reap the rewards of Cole tutorage
Under the tutorage of Ashley Cole at Everton, Patterson can be utilised to the fullest by Clarke on the international stage.
Cole was arguably one of the best full-backs the world has seen in recent years and his role as an assistant coach at the Toffees will be doing Patterson all sorts of favours.
His love to bomb forward mirrors that of Cole and recent Scottish full-backs Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, something which Clarke must capitalise on.
Although, Patterson himself is already defensively impressive and uses physicality to his advantage, an absolute must for any modern full-back wanting to compete domestically and for their country.
Hopefully, Clarke will allow Patterson to shine, a string of starts in Scotland’s first XI will do his confidence the world of good.
It will be interesting to see how Patterson develops over this campaign, but his strong start to the season for the Blues has left all fans craving more.