Callum O'Connell

Mon 4 September 2023 15:40, UK

Everton full-backs Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko would not have been the first names given when asked which players would impress at Goodison Park this season, but both have made brilliant starts.

Patterson, who joined the Toffees from Rangers in January 2022, had found opportunities limited after playing just 19 Premier League games in a year and a half at the club. Since Seamus Coleman’s shocking injury, however, he has stepped up.

The Scottish international full-back was named in the WhoScored team of the week after an impressive performance against Sheffield United in which he got an assist with a fantastic cross to Arnaut Danjuma.

WhoScored writer Ben McAleer wrote in summary: “Everton fought back to earn a 2-2 draw at Sheffield United on Saturday, with Nathan Patterson key for the Toffees.

“Indeed, it was Patterson’s assist for Arnaut Danjuma that ensured Everton returned to Merseyside with a positive result, that coming from one of two key passes.

“The Scot’s only tackle happened to be a last-man one, while his only clearance was one off the line, and that helped land a WhoScored rating of 7.92.”

Meanwhile, Mykolenko has also impressed in recent weeks, with his performances at left-back getting steadily better by week as he grows with the experience of Premier League football under Sean Dyche.

The Ukrainian himself was named in the Carabao Cup team of the round, on the official Carabao Cup Twitter account, for his performance against Doncaster Rovers.

Despite some suggestions of a poor showing in the midweek cup fixture, the stats are clearly on his side, and prove that, numerically at least, he can turn in some top performances in an Everton shirt.

Of the Toffees players to make a strong impact and get team of the week features this season, neither full-back would have been high on anybody’s list.

Dyche has found two unsung heroes.

In other Everton news, a message sent to 777 Partners spells danger for their possible Everton takeover.