Defender Nathan Patterson looks set to be offered a chance by Frank Lampard as he waits to make his Everton debut.
The Scotland cap moved from Rangers for a club record fee in January but Seamus Coleman is keeping him out of the team on the right side of defence.
Having been brought in by axed boss Rafa Benitez, Patterson has yet to make his first-team debut under Lampard with Celtic flop Jonjoe Kenny emerging as the back-up right-back.
The Everton boss and Chelsea legend has named the 20-year-old on the bench for every game in charge but hasn't given him minutes on the field.
The lack of game time in the English Premier League will be concerning Steve Clarke ahead of the crucial World Cup play-off with Ukraine, but there could be hope for the right-back.
Ahead of games against Manchester City on Saturday and the FA Cup clash with Boreham Wood next Thursday, Lampard has teased that Patterson could get his opportunity.
Speaking to the Everton website, Lampard said: “Nathan is obviously a young player we have a lot of hopes for in the longer term. There’s competition for a reason.
“Seamus (Coleman) has been brilliant since I came in. Nathan will get his chance.”
