Steve Clarke has shared how Nathan Patterson ‘can only improve’ with regular football at Everton after naming the right-back in his Scotland squad.
The 20-year-old looks to have nailed down a starting place in Frank Lampard’s side and is one of only three outfield players - alongside Alex Iwobi and James Tarkowski - to have played every league minute so far this season. The defender’s ever-presence on the pitch is in stark contrast to the second-half of last season in which he managed just one FA Cup appearance after signing from Rangers for £16million in January.
But injury to club captain Seamus Coleman, coupled with the easing of relegation pressures, has allowed the young Scot to flourish in the wing-back role under Lampard and his performance in the 0-0 Merseyside derby draw at home to Liverpool made him an instant fan-favourite. And Scotland boss Clarke admitted he knew as much would happen just as soon as the full-back got his break.
