HE may only be 20, and have played less than 40 games at senior level, but Nathan Patterson has crammed quite a number of highs and lows into his fledgling career already. Even by his standards though, the last few months have been quite something.
Patterson made a big-money move to Everton from Rangers in January, but no sooner had he arrived than the manager who signed him, Rafa Benitez, was sacked
His replacement, Frank Lampard, then leaned heavily on his experienced players with the Toffees mired in relegation battle, meaning that his impressive displays for Scotland represented just about the only top-level football Patterson was getting.
To this day, he has played just 45 minutes for the Everton first-team, being substituted at half-time in an FA Cup tie against Boreham Wood, but ill fortune has played its part in his lack of appearances.
Having bided his time, Patterson was pencilled in to face West Ham in the Premier League in April, only to pick up a serious ankle injury five minutes from the end of the final training session on the eve of the game.
That meant he not only missed out on helping his club side to avoid relegation by the skin of their teeth, but that he was helpless too as his country crashed out of the World Cup play-offs to Ukraine last week.
He is now fit and raring to go though as Scotland look to get back on track against Armenia tomorrow night, and as he tries to put his injury woes firmly behind him. The experience, he hopes, will only make him stronger in the long run.
“As soon as it happened I pretty much focused on getting back fit,” Patterson said.
“I’ve had very few days off, just working away to make sure I got into the Scotland squad. That was in my mind the full time. I’m glad I made it.
“It was a block tackle on Dele Alli in training. I have gone over on my ankle and snapped the ligaments. I knew straight away it was a bad one.
“It was the last five minutes at the end of training and I was due to play the next day. I had waited a long time for the opportunity. But these things happen in football. You work hard and sometimes things happen and you need to adjust.
“I took a bit of time to get over it but once I knew it was possible to make the Scotland squad I made sure I got there.
“It was just unfortunate. He came up straight away after training just apologising. It wasn’t his fault, things like this happen in football. You just need to move on.
“That’s my first proper injury, my first surgery. It’s another step in my career but I’d rather it came early and I can push on when I’m fit.
“When you experience setbacks and disappointment when you’re young, you are going to then be used to it when stuff like that happens when you’re older. It stands you in good stead for when you are pushing on in your career.
“As I’ve say all the time, I’d rather all this stuff was coming when I’m younger so I know what it feels like when I’m older as well.
“It’s just going to benefit me moving forward.”
Despite his lack of game-time so far at Goodison Park, Patterson is certain that Lampard will give him more opportunities now that the spectre of relegation and the pressure that comes with it have been seen off.
“I have had a good few chats [with the manager],” he said. “He was always making sure I’m ready, he didn’t want to throw me in at the deep end with the situation the club was in.
“It was important we got as many points as we could to stay up. He wanted to make sure I was ready. But then when I was ready I got injured.
“It’s unfortunate but it happens and I look forward to pre-season.
“I’m confident [I’ll get opportunities]. He likes young players and wants to develop young players and bring them through.
“He wants a young squad so I’ll make sure when I go back for pre-season I hit the ground running and give them something to think about.”
