
Nathan Patterson playing for Scotland against Japan in March 2026
Nathan Patterson has been included in Scotland's World Cup squad for this summer's tournament in North America.
Everton's overlooked full-back, who has hardly been played by fellow Scot and manager David Moyes this season, has been recognised by Scotland manager Steve Clark efor his energy and determination.
Patterson and the rest of the 26-man squad will be put through their paces at Lesser Hampden next week ahead of the final home-based friendly against Curacao – with tickets selling fast for the big send-off.
They’ll then fly off to a training camp at Inter Miami’s state-of-the-art Florida Blue Training Center before one final tune-up against Bolivia at New Jersey’s Sports Illustrated Arena.
From there, the players and staff will be based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Reader Comments (31)
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2 Posted 19/05/2026 at 21:16:09
I read today where Everton had a 66%win rate with Patterson at fullback, two wins and one draw in the Premier League games he has started this season!
3 Posted 19/05/2026 at 21:30:20
Even when he came through his injuries and was half fit again, he was still good enough for the Scotland team.
He's just not been given a fair chance at Everton and I wouldn't blame him if he leaves.
4 Posted 19/05/2026 at 22:35:32
5 Posted 19/05/2026 at 22:38:29
6 Posted 19/05/2026 at 23:09:31
Despite that our defence still performed badly in many games.
You don't need three giants at the back. What they did need was a speedy sweeper like Jagielka but who can understand Moyes thinking.
As we thought, Spurs survival will come down to our final game and we all know Everton will help save them and probably Richarlison will score.
Final thought, Palace,Villa and PSG will win the Euro cups.
7 Posted 19/05/2026 at 23:18:33
8 Posted 19/05/2026 at 23:47:06
We simply havent seen enough to make bold claims either way. It seems peculiar that he is getting chosen for the Scottish squad when he clearly isnt fancied by Moyes. I hope he does get to play so we can make a better assessment of whether hes been harshly treated.
9 Posted 19/05/2026 at 00:56:14
Three different managers over 4 years have spent thousands of hours watching Patterson play and train, and all came to the same verdict -- no thanks.
10 Posted 20/05/2026 at 07:08:51
He is out of contract in 2027, and is unlikely to be offered a new one. His time is done, and he needs to move on for himself.
11 Posted 20/05/2026 at 07:31:52
It must knock your confidence when not only playing a centreback at fullback, but then moving a midfielder to play there and you looking on from the bench.
I still don't understand when Moyes played him in 3 games in a row this season, we won two and drew one, then dropped him, typical Moyes.
12 Posted 20/05/2026 at 07:57:20
He had a decent spell over Christmas and has since been treated like shit by the manager and his geriatric staff (Baines apart).
13 Posted 20/05/2026 at 08:01:28
14 Posted 20/05/2026 at 08:14:37
Glasner!
15 Posted 20/05/2026 at 08:47:04
And we're lumbered with that person.
16 Posted 20/05/2026 at 09:00:27
He was one of the few who gave his all in the Sunderland cup tie but basically hasn't been seen since.
17 Posted 20/05/2026 at 09:41:35
Both Dyche and Moyes, who are a lot more cautious and unadventurous, both decided to eliminate Patterson, because defending is not his strongest point, but its a bit untrue saying Lampard, didnt use him because I remember him doing okay a couple of times under Frank, but he never got a long enough sustained run in the team because of injuries.
Football, is and always will be built on having a good defence, but the teams who win, have usually got to be good at attacking as well.
Some people dont mind having Jake OBrien, playing fullback, but watching him playing there has definitely been the most infuriating thing I have witnessed in a lot of home games this season.
Good luck to Patterson, this summer, hopefully he has a good tournament and gets himself a good move.
18 Posted 20/05/2026 at 10:06:16
Moyes has treated Nathan badly and worse than that he has taken the piss out of Charly Alcaraz, I would love to know the story about why Charly has been treated that way.
19 Posted 20/05/2026 at 10:19:18
20 games played out of 44.
He won 3 games under Frank - including. Boreham Wood Fa cup 45 mins, West Ham H, & Fleetwood league cup
His influence wasnt great, nor his reliability. I cant accept a revisionist view from any of us that he was good under Lampard, and Dyche or Moyes have done him over.
He was a prospect that was seen to have good attributes. Has missed a lot of games from injury, and has failed to grasp his chance. A humiliation including a shocking performance vs Bradford in EPL2 match.
If one manager had overlooked him, I would argue that he has had a raw deal, but all of them, when weve played Young, Coleman, Garner, Obrien ahead of him, tells me something isn't right. They might be average managers, but theyre not all stupid to overlook at 24 year old for those players.
He will go on to play at a moderate level I am sure. But I don't believe he is the level what we need going forward.
I cant disagree with the decision not to invest more minutes into a player that is done. If I am any of the retained players, that is what id expect.
As soon as he was dropped again after the 3 games, you knew he was done.
20 Posted 20/05/2026 at 10:23:15
21 Posted 20/05/2026 at 10:28:11
Scotland used to produce top players now Celtic and Rangers are full of foreigners whilst the Scottish players are forced to play lower leagues or pack in.
I wanted Patterson to succeed but when given a run of games he got injured and gave someone else an opportunity.
Without doubt O'Brien is the better defender and whilst we have a defence minded coach Patterson will not be given a chance.
Our youth set up must also be pretty poor if we can't produce either full back. Even trying to convert wingers into fullbacks can't be on the agenda in the academy.
Wish him well in the world cup, bet he was as surprised as anyone to get a call up.
22 Posted 20/05/2026 at 10:29:32
Maybe it's not a massive achievement but it will certainly be a massive confidence booster for the lad considering he got none or very little from his club managers.
23 Posted 20/05/2026 at 10:43:15
24 Posted 20/05/2026 at 11:49:00
25 Posted 20/05/2026 at 11:59:13
I remember Patterson, getting taken off against Boreham Wood, on his debut at half time, and his replacement Jonjoe Kenny, having a hand in our two goals during the second half. Some people thought he was miles away (he was raw, how many senior games had he played when Everton, signed him?) but I was impressed with parts of the kids game, because I like watching players who have got a good first touch and like to run forward.
The club, has been down a dark road. We have had some very good young footballers, who havent really progressed and got the best out of themselves, with my own view being that the most important thing in the world for a young footballers development, is that you have got to be playing senior football, on a regular basis, because there is simply no substitute with regards helping them learn the game
26 Posted 20/05/2026 at 12:06:33
I can still remember Dibling letting the ball go through his legs (deliberately) because he knew Nathan Patterson, was running into the space, at Forest. Do you think he would have done this If OBrien would have been playing fullback?
Maybe Im old fashioned but Ive always believed that football is about partnerships. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your teammates, is imperative, and when Moyes, has picked Dibling, to play in front of Jake OBrien, the first thing he has done to the kid, imo, is expose his weakness.
27 Posted 20/05/2026 at 15:30:15
28 Posted 20/05/2026 at 15:42:27
29 Posted 20/05/2026 at 18:03:38
How soul destroying must it be seeing OBrien ahead of you.
Then again, look at whos the manager who ‘gets the most out of players. Ask the young players (face palm).
He will end up back in Scotland and my money is on either of the old firm, or Hearts.
Good luck to the lad.
30 Posted 21/05/2026 at 03:21:12
Right-back. The first thing to say is the utter failure of TFG to get us a proper right-back in the last two windows.
That has caused us irreparable harm on the pitch this season. We have had to move players out of position as a result and it has harmed us.
As Tony A says, O'Brien at right-back has been one of the reasons why we have not improved at all this season. He looks lost once he crossed the half-way line and the wide fella ahead of him needs something better. Dreaming of Pinnear/Baines. O'Brien has had some fecking howlers this season. But it will be #5 and #6 starting on Sunday.
We looked better and more balanced in the three games that Patterson started. We didn't lose any of them.
31 Posted 21/05/2026 at 15:35:22
Tony (26) you have a good point. Remember the game when Rohl, Dibling and Patterson played against Forest. They gelled after a period of time and were beginning to play good football.
They never played together in the team again because they did not score.
It will be interesting what Moyes says about Patterson when he is commentating at the World Cup. I bet if he plays well Moyes will say 'he is starting to break into my team this season. He has been working hard to improve'.
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1 Posted 19/05/2026 at 21:02:51
Personall,y I think Patterson is a better full back than Mykolenko but doesn't get a chance. Keane has put a few decent performances in this season, he had a little patch of good form but Tarks has been a major let down.
Tarks should have benched a long time ago but Moyes won't bench his favourites.