Everton: Troy Deeney fumes at Nathan Patterson live on talkSPORT after Scotland defeat
Troy Deeney has hit out at Everton right-back Nathan Patterson after the way he played for Scotland in their 1-0 friendly defeat to Northern Ireland on Tuesday 26 March.
Deeney questioned Patterson’s attitude going into the game as he insisted he treated the game like a friendly rather than going into it wanting to win as you should always do.
The former Watford striker shared that he expects Scotland to turn up in games and be physical and difficult to play against, but Patterson went against all of that in the defeat.
Speaking live on talkSPORT [27 March, 10:26], Deeney fumed: “I expect the Scottish team to turn up and have a fight with everyone, be hard working and resilient. I saw Patterson, the way he was defending for that first goal.
“That’s somebody that’s seen the game as a friendly. That’s stuff you do on a Friday in training in an old-versus-young game.
“He’s flicking the ball with the outside of his right foot with two people up his back. I mean, come on.”
Nathan Patterson slammed after disappointing Scotland display
Deeney is not the first to speak out in criticism of Patterson after his performance, with journalist Graham Spiers describing watching the defender as “utterly painful” given his sheer lack of confidence after his mistake gave away the winning goal.
Having been reduced to playing a bit-part role at Goodison Park under Sean Dyche, with Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman often the preferred options at right-back, it is no wonder his confidence has fallen off a cliff in recent months.
His drop down the pecking order at Goodison was made most evident when he turned out for the under-21s side against Fulham on 26 February to help him get more minutes into his legs after missing out on playing for the first-team.
Patterson’s confidence has clearly taken a huge blow this season, and the recent performance for Scotland and subsequent criticism will do him no favours, with discussions over his role at Everton likely to begin this summer.
In other Everton news, the club have joined Manchester United in a race to sign a Boca Juniors wonder.
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