Everton: Journalist reacts to ‘utterly painful’ Nathan Patterson showing for Scotland
Everton defender Nathan Patterson’s display for Scotland against Northern Ireland was described as “utterly painful” by journalist Graham Spiers.
The full-back was part of a Scotland side that lost 1-0 at Hampden Park on Tuesday (26 March) and got himself in a big tangle and played a loose pass prior to Conor Bradley’s excellent winner.
Spiers, who has written for The Times and The Herald among others, took to X (26 March) to bemoan what he saw from the Toffees man.
“I found it painful – utterly painful – watching Nathan Patterson tonight,” he wrote.
“A terrific young player who is absolutely shorn of confidence. Time and time and time again. I hope the kid comes through it.”
Everton man Nathan Patterson struggles on Scotland duty
It just has not happened at all for Patterson in an Everton shirt this season with injuries and form meaning he has been largely consigned to a bit-part role under Sean Dyche’s side.
Unfortunately, his role in the Northern Ireland goal at Hampden was pretty ugly. He initially recovered from a mistake but then inexplicably played a dangerous ball back into the danger zone.
Bradley still had a lot of work to do to fire it into the top-right corner, but frankly he never would have had the opportunity had Patterson not played himself in such a hole in the first place.
Still aged only 22, there is still plenty of time for Patterson to recover from this funk he finds himself in and every Everton supporter will be hoping he can do so because there is definitely a player in there. But it is hard to see him playing much of a role when the Toffees are still fighting a relegation battle.
In other Everton news, Phil McNulty hailed another Toffees ace despite his personal international disappointment.
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