Paul Tait believes Nathan Patterson and James Garner have moved one step closer to featuring for Everton after playing for the club’s under-21 side on Thursday night.
The pair both featured in the 3-0 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the quarter-finals of the Premier League International Cup. Patterson played just over an hour, while Garner managed to feature for 84 minutes at Goodison Park.
Garner has been sidelined with a back problem since before the World Cup, while Patterson picked up a knee injury during Everton’s 4-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the start of January. But Tait believes the two are now one step closer to returning for Sean Dyche's side.
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“He was a threat and had a chance in both halves,” Tait said when asked about Patterson's performance. "It’s another chance for him and James Garner to get minutes under their belts and get them closer to first-team action.”
Despite creating chances in both halves, Everton ultimately fell to a 3-0 defeat after goals from Isaac Babadi, Jenson Seelt and substitute August Flyger secured the Dutch giants a place in the final four.
“We take loads of positives. The whole tournament has been excellent. We’ve played good teams and the lads have played really well," Tait said after the game.
“Tonight was nice to have the young lads playing at Goodison under the lights. I tried to get as many lads on as I could, just to get that experience for them.
“Our final actions could’ve been better, and we lacked a bit of creativity in the final third. The first two goals we conceded were poor goals to concede, so we’re disappointed with that.
“They were ruthless in front of goal. I think you can see they play in a man’s league. You could see that experience.”
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