Scotland manager Steve Clarke has given the latest update on Nathan Patterson as the Everton defender continues his recovery from injury.
The full-back underwent surgery on an ankle problem at the beginning of April, which ended his 2021/22 season for the Blues, having not made a Premier League appearance since his January move from Rangers. However, he was recently called up for his national team as they prepare to face Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier.
Patterson hasn't played since his involvement in Scotland's friendly against Austria in March and Clarke has admitted he clearly won't be match fit for the crucial clash with Ukraine, or the Nations League matches with Armenia and Ireland that follow.
However, Clarke believes Patterson was unlucky to get injured when he did after a conversation with Everton boss Frank Lampard - and he is going to give the right-back every chance to prove his fitness on the training pitch.
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Clarke told the Glasgow Evening Times : “Well, he is not going to be match fit because he hasn’t played. I think the last time he played was for us. He played for us in the March games. He lasted about an hour, 65 minutes in the first and an hour in the second.
"He was unfortunate because I had a chat with Frank Lampard after those games and Nathan was going back to start for Everton against West Ham, and he got injured the day before the game, which put him out for the rest of the season. He was unlucky from that point of view. That was disappointing and obviously for us as well.
“I will just gauge when he comes in. I think when he joins up with us it will be his first chance to train with a group of players. He has been working on his own and it is always different when you go into group training and you start to work.
“So we will just have to look at Nathan and we will make a judgement on that as we see him in the training.”
