Nathan Patterson to see specialist on Tuesday, likely to miss Everton clash v Southampton
Nathan Patterson will see a specialist on Tuesday about the injury he suffered for Scotland on Friday night, and will likely miss Southampton’s trip to Everton.
The right-back has started the season in tremendous form for the Toffees but lasted just 30 minutes for his national team after landing awkwardly, and was forced off on a stretcher complaining of shooting pain up his right leg.
Manager Steve Clarke admitted it didn’t look good, but the Scottish Daily Express has shared that a source has told them the injury isn’t serious and that he will see a specialist this week to decipher just how bad it is.
“The injury is not as bad as first feared but he will see a specialist on Tuesday for confirmation,” they quoted a source as saying [24 September].
They say he is likely to only miss “a short period of time” but that likely rules him out of next weekend’s Premier League clash at Goodison Park against the Saints.
Blow
Patterson really struggled in the first few months after his move to Everton and featured for just 45 minutes before injury ended his season early.
This season though he has taken the starting berth from Seamus Coleman and not looked back, with excellent performances at both ends of the pitch and helping Frank Lampard’s side to go on a six game unbeaten run in all competitions.
This injury will come as a huge blow for the manager with the defensive unit so far being one of the best in the league, with only Brighton conceding less goals so far despite the Toffees playing a game more.
Lampard will now bring Coleman back into the fold and with the Irish defender’s standing within the squad, if he performs well then the manager may opt to keep him in going forward rather than bringing Patterson back in.
But having options is always a positive and once Patterson is fit again and ready to return then there will be a monumental battle for a starting spot.