Nathan Patterson Everton return nears as ex Rangers star's chances rated

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Nathan Patterson has had a tough time with injuries since leaving Rangers for Everton.

After completing that multi-million pound transfer to the Premier League, the young right-back saw his first season at Goodison disrupted by injury.

When back fit he found it tough to hold down regular starts but also kept seeing recurring issues cropping back up to sideline him and make it even more difficult to break in.

Patterson’s latest injury problem has kept him from making a top team appearance since April and also ruled him out of the summer Euros for Scotland.

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Patterson nears Everton comeback

Sean Dyche recently namechecked Patterson when giving a rundown of the situation of all of his injured stars.

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.

Dyche told the Liverpool Echo: "They're not quite ready for (a behind-closed-doors friendly) yet, so Broja and Youssef being the main two.

"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."

But the Echo is now reporting in an update that the 23-year-old is back “available for selection” ahead of the Toffees facing Brentford on Saturday.

And it is noted that he may be time to give him a chance from the start as he is the only naturally right-sided defender available to Dyche.

Patterson has been building himself up with minutes for Everton under-21s in Premier League 2.

Patterson Everton future doubted amid ‘unfinished’ Rangers business

It comes after Patterson saw his long-term future at Goodison Park doubted.

"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."

Could that mean a potential return to Ibrox one day? It’s certainly something he likes the idea of.

"Of course I'd love to go back to Rangers later on in my career and finish what I started," said Patterson in December 2022.

"It would be great to finish at Ibrox. It's where I started off my career so it would be nice to play in front of those fans again.

"There's a bit of unfinished business for me. I was involved in 55 but I'd like to go back and get more titles."