Manager drops hint over future of £16m Premier League star who is open to move to Rangers
11/12/2024 02:00 PM
It's fair to say that Everton manager Sean Dyche has had an at times frayed relationship with former Rangers right-back Nathan Patterson.
The gravel-voiced Premier League manager, 53, takes no prisoners and has had a few run-ins with the Rangers academy star over his time at Goodison Park.
Whilst Nathan Patterson, 23, arrived before Sean Dyche at Everton, senior players infamously clashed with Dyche in a Portuguese training camp after an altercation with the right-back.
Dyche insists there was 'nothing' in it (BBC Sport).
But whilst speculation surrounding a rift persists, Nathan Patterson has been unable to make an impact on Everton due to persistent injury problems since moving from Rangers.
Now, amid speculation that the Toffees could move the Scotland international on next summer, Dyche has suggested Patterson will get his chance to prove his fitness, and his ability, with Everton.
Nathan Patterson 'coming back stronger' at Everton
If there are any supporters who can empathise with injury problems, it's those who follow Rangers.
The Ibrox club have seen their squad decimated by medical issues over the last three years and Everton find themselves in a similar boat.
Nathan Patterson is just one of a long list of regular absentees at Goodison Park with Tim Iroegbunam, James Garner, Seamus Coleman, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti all currently in recovery.
But speaking about the situation to the Liverpool Echo, Dyche claims that the Goodison Park medical staff have a plan to reintroduce them to the team with Patterson 'coming back stronger' than ever.
"They’re not quite ready for (a behind-closed-doors friendly) yet, so Broja and Youssef being the main two," said Dyche.
"Seamus (Coleman) has the hamstring so we are going to have to settle that down. The others we will have to be careful with.
"The challenge is, if you are playing the games, not getting them re-injured.
"We are trying to come through that, we’re looking at the stats and facts, trying to judge the right time to get these players games but certainly they are the main two and [Nathan] Patterson is coming back stronger as well.
"But they are the main two, Youssef and Broja, who will need that games programme but they’re building up to that now."
'Doubts' raised over ex-Rangers star's Everton future
It's fair to say Nathan Patterson's time at Everton has been plagued with injuries, ever since that £12m rising to £16m switch to England in 2022.
The right-back has been included in every Premier League matchday squad since October but is yet to play for the team this season after a troublesome thigh injury.
Now in his third full season at Everton, Patterson has made only 48 appearances in almost three years at the club, 30 of which have been starts.
The situation has led to some journalists south of the border casting doubts over Patterson's long-term future at Everton, something which will prick the ears of Rangers fans.
With Rangers captain James Tavernier in decline, Patterson has previously said he has 'unfinished business' with the Ibrox side and would receive a big welcome on any prospective return.
"I think it's doubtful (Nathan Patterson has a future at Everton)," said Echo journalist Gavin Buckland in October.
"You look at players' career trajectories who become established players.
"Patterson is not following that trajectory at all.
"He's only made 50 league starts by the time he's 23 and he's been in around the first-team for three or four years.
"That for me is not the pathway of somebody who is going to be an established player given the number of injuries he's had as well.
"Whether Dyche fancies him or not is also a moot point.
"It's going to be difficult, I'm not saying he's not going to, but it's going to be difficult with that career history."
