Frank Lampard has sent an ominous Premier League relegation warning to his Everton charges as ex-Rangers kid Nathan Patterson plays in a pre-season humbling.
The Chelsea and England legend was in snarling mood as he faced the cameras following the Merseyside outfit’s demoralising 4-0 defeat to Minnesota United in pre-season.
The interview is genuinely worrying for Everton fans; Lampard looks a man under pressure – to put it mildly – and a ball hasn’t even been kicked this campaign.
Narrowly escaping relegation last season and having lost the man who inspired them out of the mire – Richarlison moving to Spurs in a £60m deal – woe to be a Toffee if these are the sounds coming out of the club already this campaign.
But whilst Rangers fans with a wider interest in football will be watching what transpires at Everton with interest, it’s those links to former Academy kid Nathan Patterson that piques our interest.
Ex-Rangers kid Nathan Patterson prepares for Everton challenge
The youngster started the match and was part of a team who shipped four goals against considerably weaker opposition on paper.
The 20-year-old Ibrox wing-back broke through in Glasgow in 2020 and didn’t appear to be looking back before moving to Goodison Park on a £12m rising to £16m deal in January.
But since the move the Scotland international has watched on from the reserves as injury and a lack of opportunities blight the early part of his Toffees career.
The move, which was a club record outgoing transfer until Calvin Bassey’s eclipsed it only this week by moving to Ajax for north of £20m, is also now raising eyebrows amongst the support.
When any football club, Premier League or otherwise, spends this much money on a player then they’re expected to have an impact.
It’s not all his fault; Frank Lampard came into the club after the youngster was signed and aforementioned injuries have had a sizeable impact.
The need to play experienced club captain Seamus Coleman in the midst of a relegation battle also trumped bleeding Patterson, even if Celtic flop Jonjoe Kenny somehow found himself in front of Nathan in the Everton pecking order.
Starting Nathan Patterson v Minnesota suggests the ex-Rangers kid will have a bigger role at Everton this season but the pressure is certainly mounting in the early part of his Toffees career.
Yet to make his Premier League debut in an unconvincing side and with a big transfer fee looming over him, this could be a definitive season for the talented former Rangers star south of the border.
Meanwhile, here’s the latest regarding Rangers’ pursuit of a £5.5m-rated international talent the Ibrox fans are getting very excited about indeed.