Nathan Patterson has been challenged to end his Everton injury woes - the kind that have seen his move from Rangers blight his time in the Premier League.
Sean Dyche insists he and fellow long-term injury absentees Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti must ensure the first thing they do while waiting on their chance to get back into the team is to stay fit and try to avoid re-injuring.
The 23-year-old hasn't played a first-team game for the Toffees since doing his hamstring in a 6-0 heavy defeat to Chelsea in April this year.
That devastatingly saw the ex-Rangers academy kid miss out on Euro 2024 with Scotland, with an operation required, and he's been struggling to get back in the picture at Everton since.
However, Patterson is believed to be edging closer to a return after making a B team appearance at Goodison Park recently.
Dyche - who did play Patterson plenty during the early days of his tenure - expects Patterson, Broja and Chermiti to be back involved in his squad soon.
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When asked about the injured players at the club, Dyche told the Liverpool Echo: "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."
Patterson joined Everton from Rangers for £11m in January 2022.
Rafa Benitez was sacked a matter of days after the deal went through, and his replacement Frank Lampard wasn't as keen on Patterson.
The right-back will be hoping he can get back in Dyche's good side in the coming weeks and months in order to make an impact at Goodison - and the club's new stadium.
