Chance for Nathan Patterson to deliver on Everton promise after new Vitaliy Mykolenko injury development
Everton defender Nathan Patterson has been in and out of the team so far this season but his chance to stake a claim for a regular berth may arrive against Luton Town with Vitality Mykolenko a possible doubt for the game.
According to BBC Sport (29 September), the Ukrainian full-back will be assessed for injury before Everton take on Luton Town at Goodison Park on Saturday (30 September) after The Athletic (28 September) reported that he’s a doubt after sustaining a knock in the 2-1 EFL Cup win over Aston Villa.
The broadcaster reported (29 September) that the Ukranian could remain in the squad after he was forced off at half-time which may force Dyche to make changes at full-back with Patterson returning to his usual right-back role.
The Scottish international has found starts hard to come by in recent games with Dyche preferring Mykolenko and Young at left-back and right-back respectively, leading to many calls that Dyche no longer trusts the former Rangers defender.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT (19 September), former Daily Star journalist Brown noted his concern regarding the Toffees’ full-back options, singling out Patterson as poor defensively, while Young and Mykolenko were “exposed” against in Everton’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.
Brown said: “I’m really quite worried about Everton’s options at full-back. I don’t think any of them look ideal. Sean Dyche doesn’t trust Patterson defensively, that’s clear. I didn’t think Ashley Young or Mykolenko did at all well against Arsenal, I thought they were both exposed.
“I’m not really sure what options there are for him. He’s going to have to try and get game out of them and it’s going to take some coaching and maybe a tinker to the way the team is set up and plays, but I think the full-back area is a major area of concern for Everton.”
Certainly, Patterson has left a lot to be desired at times defensively but he’s still only just 21 and still has a lot of development to undergo in order to morph into the player he’s been primed to become ever since his days at Ibrox.
However, whenever the Glasgow-born full-back takes to the pitch at Goodison Park, he certainly brings an energy and aggression that the Everton fans love and have arguably always needed over the years.
Veteran Young has certainly proven a very sensible and solid presence for Dyche but recent performances suggest that he isn’t the long-term solution.
Against Arsenal, the former Manchester United full-back could not lead his side to a capable and solid performance let alone an unlikely victory, winning just one of his ground duels, successfully completing 56% of his passes, recording just 34 touches, losing possession 12 times, failed to complete a single cross, dribbled past once and recorded just one tackle [SofaScore].
It won’t be long before the Everton boss is forced to ease the Goodison Park wonder into permanent first-team contention.
Like James Garner is now achieving with his first team opportunities, the same must be offered to Patterson before long, his youthful exuberance and burgeoning potential are the characteristics that Dyche and the whole club need to finally usher in a new era on the blue half of Merseyside.
And that promising new theory must be tested starting against Luton Town on Saturday (30 September).
In other Everton news, Kelechi Iheanacho has spoken out for the first time having been targeted by the Toffees this summer