Sean Dyche delivers tough message to Nathan Patterson after Everton disappointment
Everton boss Sean Dyche has delivered a frank verdict on Nathan Patterson, fifteen months into his Goodison Park career, as shared by the Liverpool Echo.
The manager backed Patterson, as well as James Garner, to meet the challenge head-on in order to prove their credentials as first-team figures.
Both featured in Saturday’s disappointing 1-3 home loss to Fulham and did not leave rave reviews, something Dyche backed them to recover from.
The current battle against the drop for the Toffees will be a difficult test for the pair, as well as providing crucial experience.
“He’ll (Garner) grow and learn as time goes on,” Dyche stated.
“Obviously at the minute it’s going to be a fast-track learning but there are a few players out there.
“Patto is a young player still, you forget that, they’re developing players, they’re not rounded Premier League bona fide players, they’ve got to develop and learn about that.
“Again, these are tough times for them to learn through but that’s the challenge.”
Critical period ahead
There’s no doubt that this is a time of adversity for the blue half of Merseyside, but it can also forge a future for Patterson, one way or another.
Following his move from Rangers in January 2022, it has been a stop-start time for the 21-year old.
He will be called upon in the rest of the current campaign but next season, Premier League or Championship, will be absolutely crucial for the Glaswegian.
“Not a bona fide Premier League player” – that is a ruthless but fair verdict from the manager on the full-back.
The current season has resulted in 15 appearances overall, but it has been a mixed bag, disrupted by injury and the battle for selection under the former Burnley boss, having started the campaign in favour with Frank Lampard.
In the scoreless Merseyside derby in September, Patterson was lauded for his performance and that is the level that he will need to reach on a consistent basis if he is to make the grade.
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