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Nathan Patterson now likely to start every remaining Everton fixture in Premier League - Paul Joyce
Everton defender Nathan Patterson is now likely to start their remaining crucial Premier League fixtures after Seamus Coleman’s season-ending knee injury, according to Paul Joyce.
The Toffees skipper was stretchered off in the 2-2 draw with Leicester on Monday (1 May) following a late tackle by Boubakary Soumare that saw him fall awkwardly and injure his knee.
Coleman released a statement on Wednesday (3 May) revealing that he has suffered no ACL damage, but according to the Liverpool Echo [3 May], the Ireland international is still likely to miss the rest of the campaign.
And Joyce, writing in his The Times article [3 May] has revealed that Everton boss Sean Dyche is likely to now start fringe player Patterson in Coleman’s absence.
He said: “Patterson, the Scotland international, replaced Coleman at right back and impressed at the King Power. He is likely to keep his place for the club’s four remaining Premier League fixtures — against Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth — in which they will look to climb out of the relegation zone and secure their top-flight status for a 70th consecutive season.”
Able replacement
Everton did sign Patterson as a long-term replacement for Coleman when he joined last summer and it’s now time the club follows through on that idea with the Toffees skipper likely to be out for the remainder of the campaign.
However, when Coleman was out recently with a hamstring problem the team suffered badly with performances and slipped further down the table.
His return to the team against Leicester City did indeed bring an upturn in performance levels, but the Toffees must now do without him.
Dyche is known to favour experience over youth at times, but that tact will have to change with Patterson ready to come in and stake a claim for a permanent place for next season. And given his qualities and burgeoning potential, Patterson seems the ideal replacement for Coleman.
The ball is now firmly and finally in his court to prove he has what it takes to lead the club forward at right-back.