Nathan Patterson impresses Frank Lampard with Everton penalty demand v Celtic
Everton were taken all the way to penalties on Sunday (20 November) but they did eventually beat Scottish Premiership side Celtic.
In a game with plenty of chances, neither side had that cutting edge to win the game in 90 minutes but the Toffees kept their nerve in the shootout and former Rangers man Nathan Patterson was adamant he would take a spot-kick.
The Scottish international lashed his penalty into the net after impressing Frank Lampard with his all-around defensive display against the Hoops’ star man Jota.
“He was with his Rangers links. I was more than happy for him to take it. I like lads who stand up,” Lampard said, as quoted by the Daily Record. “Patts has got some character. He is a good lad and nicely competitive.
“Pats was really good for us at the start of the season. Then he got an injury while playing with Scotland and since he has come back in, he has still been finding his feet to get back to those levels but as a young player that is normal.
“He needs to push on now. I thought he did well with bits today but there were a couple of bits that he could be cleaner on, but he is a really good player for us.
“I was always confident about the attacking side of his game, but as a young player, I wanted to see him defensively. At the start of the season, it was spot-on and I think he really needs to continue focusing on that side of it.
“Today, the challenge that was put to him against a player who has got a lot of ability to go either way. I thought he defended pretty well.”
What a find
Rafael Benitez didn’t do much right during his time as Everton manager but his business in January before he was sacked was actually exceptional.
Patterson was brought in from Rangers and while he didn’t break into the team until this season, his potential was obvious and it is now being shown to the world every time he plays.
Vitaliy Mykolenko was another who arrived in the January window of 2021 and has cemented himself as the best left-back at the club due to Lucas Digne’s move to Aston Villa.
In Lampard’s best team, those two are among the first names on the teamsheet and they were in Sydney too as the Toffees were made to sweat by the Scottish champions despite fielding a strong side.
For such a young player to hold their hands up for a penalty shootout is a huge statement that they are ready to be a team leader and it could easily be in his future that the captain’s armband is strapped to his biceps at Everton.