When Nathan Patterson broke into the Rangers first-team, it was clear that the club had a huge talent on their hands.
Tall, fast, aggressive and with the mentality needed to make it at Ibrox, the teenager soon found himself as a key member of Steven Gerrard’s squad.
A record move to the Premier League and Everton hasn’t gone to plan though as Nathan Patterson struggles to make the same impact that he did at Rangers, Michael Ball explaining why.
Nathan Patterson given post-Rangers performance verdict
Sean Dyche doesn’t seem to fancy the Scotland international at all.
Veteran skipper Seamus Coleman, Ashley Young and Ben Godfrey have all been preferred this season and, since leaving two years ago, has managed to play six consecutive games just once.
Injuries have played their part in blunting his progress but Ball, who played for both sides as well, has given his opinion as to why the 22-year old is spending more time on the bench.
When asked why Dyche doesn’t seem to be too keen on Patterson when he is everything that the are lacking just now, the former left-back and centre-half said:
“Many fans agree, but unfortunately, he has found himself 4th choice due to poor defensive displays.”
If anyone is in a good position to assess Nathan Patterson, it is Michael Ball.
But for injuries himself, he would have been a regular in England’s set up during the golden generation and spent most of his career in the Premier League and at some of Europe’s top clubs including Rangers and PSV Eindhoven.
At Rangers, Nathan Patterson wasn’t really exposed as much defensively and certainly never seemed to cause us any real issues at the back.
He could give the ball away cheaply but it was usually because he was on the front foot and trying to make something happen.
A quality that Everton could well do with just now.
