Everton’s preparations for their crucial game with Bournemouth have taken a severe blow with Nathan Patterson expected to miss out and concern growing over the availability of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Patterson - the club’s only fit senior full-back for the match at Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend - looks set to be absent on Sunday following an initial assessment of the hamstring injury he suffered at Molineux.
Calvert-Lewin also picked up a problem with his hamstring in the first half of the same game and may not be back in time to feature. Both players are key to Sean Dyche’s plans and may force the Blues boss into changing his approach to a match his side must win to guarantee Premier League survival.
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Patterson pulled up on Saturday with the game, which eventually ended 1-1, goalless. Such is the extent of Everton’s injury troubles, he was replaced at right back by centre-back Michael Keane. Dwight McNeil was already operating at left-back in the absence of Vitalii Mykolenko due to a thigh problem.
Dyche has previously said he was hopeful Mykolenko will win his fitness battle and be available to face Bournemouth but full-back alternatives, including club captain Seamus Coleman and Ruben Vinagre, are out injured and are not expected to play again this season, while the potential for Ben Godfrey to recover in time has been described as “touch and go at best” by Dyche.
It is the latest injury to blight Patterson’s Everton career. The 21-year-old has already suffered three serious setbacks in the 18 months since he moved to Merseyside from Rangers. His latest problem is not believed to be serious but could also see him miss out on international duty next month.
Patterson’s absence could lead to Mason Holgate returning to the position he last occupied in the draw at Crystal Palace, during which he was sent off for two yellow cards. He also started at left-back against Manchester City.
Dyche could otherwise change formation should Mykolenko lose his race to be fit - Alex Iwobi covered at right-wingback during the final weeks of last season while McNeil may be better suited to playing as wing-back on the left than full-back. Dyche has hinted he would be unlikely to turn to the academy for a solution in such a high stakes game.
Midfielder Tom Davies is also facing a battle to be available as he deals with a hamstring injury ahead of what could be his last game at the club. But chief among Dyche’s concerns is Calvert-Lewin’s fitness. Like Patterson the striker was withdrawn just before half-time at Wolves and there is a growing fear he will not be fit in time to help Everton’s survival bid.
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