Patterson out for “four or five” weeks

28/09/2022 47comments  |  Jump to last

Everton have confirmed the more positive prognosis on Nathan Patterson's injury following the consultation with a specialist yesterday.

The defender was stretched off as a precaution less than 25 minutes into Scotland's Nations League game against Ukraine last week amid fears he had sustained a serious problem in either his knee or the ankle on which he had surgery last April.

Those fears eased as the swelling went down and the club have now issued a statement announcing that Patterson is expected to be out until November, just before the Premier League season goes into hiatus for the World Cup in Qatar.

"Everton defender Nathan Patterson is expected to be out for around four to five weeks with an ankle injury," a club statement read. "Following a consultation with a specialist in London, Patterson will now undergo treatment under the care of Everton's medical team at Finch Farm."

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It's a blow for the 20-year-old who missed the final two months of last season as he recovered from his operation and had made such a positive start to 2022-23 once he had made his first Premier League start.

The Scot is expected to be deputised by club captain Seamus Coleman, starting with this weekend's trip to Southampton.

 

Reader Comments (47)

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Steve Brown
1 Posted 28/09/2022 at 11:22:34
Get stretching, Seamus.

He might revert to a back 3 with Coleman or Iwobi as wingback – hopefully not.

Ben King
2 Posted 28/09/2022 at 12:22:04
5-6 weeks, better than we fist thought.

Wonder what type of ankle injury?

Robert Leigh
3 Posted 28/09/2022 at 12:27:54
No point rushing him back before the World Cup, unless he has a full week of training beforehand (I'd have thought).

Seamus will be fine, but the balance of Patterson attacking down the right with a slightly more defensive left-hand side in Mykolenko, perhaps we'll see Vinagre playing a bit more to offer that threat?

Jim Bennings
4 Posted 28/09/2022 at 12:32:05
I'm not really a big advocate of this "Seamus will be fine" but what other option do we have?

I can't forget how woefully bad Coleman was at the tail end of last season, particularly in the Cup game at Palace and the home game against them.

I've loved him over the last decade but the legs are so far gone now, it's unreal.

It's just a shame that we can't seem to get a sustained run for half a season with our best team out there.

Mick O'Malley
5 Posted 28/09/2022 at 12:37:26
For fuck's sake, just as he was getting started.

I've been impressed with Patterson since he broke into the first team and we are stronger defensively,

I hate these international breaks, we always seem to end up with an injury or two. Let's hope Seamus can step in and we can keep that defensive solidity going,

Michael Lynch
6 Posted 28/09/2022 at 12:44:09
So, possibly fit enough for one of the Bournemouth games, but I'd probably expect him not to be risked until after the World Cup.
Bill Gienapp
7 Posted 28/09/2022 at 12:46:35
It certainly could have been way worse.

Injuries are an inevitable part of the game, it's just frustrating that his occurred in such a pointless nothing-burger of a match.

Shaun Robinson
8 Posted 28/09/2022 at 12:48:27
Speaking of injuries, what’s happened to Iron Man Mina?
Peter Carpenter
9 Posted 28/09/2022 at 13:11:03
It's a blow but could have been worse.

Seamus will be fine. He's had a good long rest and he will come storming back like it's 2009!

Brian Murray
10 Posted 28/09/2022 at 13:30:38
Stanley Mills to fill in and take the league by storm. Tom Cannon up front. How's that for radical?
Danny O’Neill
11 Posted 28/09/2022 at 13:54:07
I naturally assumed he would be out until after the World Cup.

I like the look of Stanley Mills. I think he is going to bring a lot to the squad. I'll have to keep an eye on Cannon, Brian, but I'll take yours and others' word.

Dave Abrahams
12 Posted 28/09/2022 at 14:25:30
Such a shame for young Nathan – just as he was showing what a fine full-back he could become.

I'm glad that it doesn't look too serious but luck is a big part of being a successful footballer and Nathan has had two bad pieces of luck when he needed the opposite.

Get back soon, lad, and carry on where you left off.

Olalekan Taofik
13 Posted 28/09/2022 at 14:32:46
#12,@Dave. I won't say it's a shame but just wish him soonest recovery.

I won't like the idea of deploying Iwobi to left back, I think he should stay up there, Although he played in front of the back 4 for Nigeria against Algeria last night in the last 10 mins.

Let Captain Seamus return to his place at least 25 mins football to get his rhythm back.

Nathan, get well soon. We'll miss you.

John Graham
14 Posted 28/09/2022 at 14:36:08
Good call, Brian @10.

Stanley Mills has been putting in some great performances and deserves a chance. Seamus will probably get a go first, but Mills will be ready if needed.

Shame on Patterson, though, who was doing great.

Stu Darlington
15 Posted 28/09/2022 at 15:14:18
I wouldn't start Seamus. He's always going to give you 100% but, in my opinion, his legs have gone now and it could leave us very vulnerable down the right side to a pacy winger.

Give young Mills a start and, if he begins to look out of his depth, we could always bring Seamus on as a fall-back.

Mike Gaynes
16 Posted 28/09/2022 at 15:55:14
Whew. Glad it's not so bad. He'll bounce back.

In the meantime, Seamus all the way for me. His legs aren't "gone" or anything close to it.

Always amused by the advocacy of playing people out of position, just to see if it works. Mills is an attacking midfielder who is younger than my car.

A fullback's first job is to defend, and nobody here has the slightest idea whether the teenager has the slightest knowledge of how to defend Premier League wingers on the dribble or mark runners off the ball, yet some would pick him ahead of Seamus. I just don't get it.

Will Mabon
18 Posted 28/09/2022 at 15:57:34
Ben @ 2:

Who knows? Something unusual or hard to assess. Longest wait for a diagnosis I can remember.

Last thing we needed. Bad at any time but this is a difficult month coming up, right as it all began to click.

Guess where the opposition will be aiming at. Gordon will need to up his tracking back game.

Jerome Shields
19 Posted 28/09/2022 at 15:59:00
Five or six weeks is a lot better than I expected. Wish Nathan a good recovery.
Eddie Dunn
20 Posted 28/09/2022 at 16:09:45
At least Seamus got on the pitch versus Scotland, so he will have had a bit of match time. It was also nice to see young Garner play for the England under 21s the other day.
Steavey Buckley
21 Posted 28/09/2022 at 16:32:58
Everton will suffer defensively and offensively if Coleman is allowed to resume the right back position in place of the injured Patterson. Kyle John or Mills may prove to be a better choice for the right back position. Both have good energy levels going forward and getting back.
Dale Self
22 Posted 28/09/2022 at 16:54:36
Yay. I think whoever said it would be Holgate on the other thread is right and it will work out.
Tommy Carter
23 Posted 28/09/2022 at 17:16:08
@ Dale.

I think he'll go with Seamus but tell him to keep it tight, not get forward as much so as we don't get caught on the break down that side.

I think the Alternative will be, and I don't like it, revert to a back 3 with Holgate starting in that 3 and a make-shift right-wingback. That will be with a view of that not working out - reverting to a back for in which Mason will go to right back and he won't have to make any substations. If this is the case then it may well mean an opportunity for someone like Stanny Mills as he tried him there in pre-season. Obviously with a view on testing it. And Mills did well.

I think it would be a mistake to change what is working well, ie, don't change Iwobi as he is working well. Don't change a back 4 with Coady and Tarkowski, as that is working well.

No need to be too clever. Put a right-back in for a right-back and we'll be fine.

Don't forget. Seamus did not have Gana and Onana in a midfield in front of him last season. Any team with Gana in is always less likely to leave their full-backs exposed.

Steve Daniells
24 Posted 28/09/2022 at 17:30:02
I cannot see Frank starting Mills ahead of Coleman. He'd probably start Holgate before he started Mills (if and when Holgate is fit again - official site says "October" but does that mean start of the month or Halloween?)

Patterson's emergence means that Seamus has had an extended break from the starting 11, so hopefully he's raring to go and can turn back the clock for a month or so until Nathan is fit again.

Dave Carruthers
25 Posted 28/09/2022 at 17:43:24
Mike Gaynes 16. Agree 100%.

He's fully recovered from all the niggles at the end of the season and has had plenty of rehab time. He has proven time and again he can bounce back and will slot seamlessly in.

Absolutely no reason to put an untried (non) full-back in, but a great chance for Mills to perhaps come off the bench, if the opportunity arises.

Great point ,Tommy Carter, that Seamus will now have a far stronger midfield protecting both the ball and the defence. Given the progress we seem to have made over the last three or four games I certainly hope it's a direct swap and we don't revert back to 5-3-2. Seamus is far better suited to a back four.

Dale Self
26 Posted 28/09/2022 at 17:43:52
Hey Tommy, I like that you don't like what I did not want to suggest. Pleeeeeease no back three! I didn't think about the Iwobi space and how that gets lost in a 352. I think we have enough stability with Myko, Coady and Tark that we can compensate and having the OnanaGana should make it possible to be tidy. However, we sometimes have bad stretches of possession at Southampton and Seamus stopping or turning back with the ball could cause a relapse that I would like to see us avoid. Holgate can't really pass either so I think we are just minimizing damage on the right, luckily it is a Saints team without much punch. I think we survive it.
Brian Murray
27 Posted 28/09/2022 at 17:44:34
I thought the Holgate - Coleman era was a thing of the past. Remember how we got in that mess? Needs must, I suppose if Mills is not ready.

As for Southampton, no cheap goals and we can nick it.

Jeff Armstrong
28 Posted 28/09/2022 at 17:59:41
Seamus Coleman will be fine at RB going forward, he put in some excellent performances at the end of last season, especially the Palace game at home when his manager acknowledged him afterwards.
Upwards and onwards
UTFT
Tommy Carter
29 Posted 28/09/2022 at 18:01:54
@26 Dale

In Seamus we are talking about a highly experienced international class full back. He’s still only 33 (just). I think he’s intelligent and experienced enough to slot in at right back.

The palace game was a very sobering experience. But they’re an extremely physical team who’ll overrun most full backs in the league if exposed. The issue wasn’t really Seamus in that game, it was having a system and players around him that exposed his shortcomings. He played as a wing back.

The suggestion here is that he plays right back in a flat back 4. If he does that I still think he can absolutely do a job.

In terms of passing the ball backwards - in a flat back 4 he shouldn’t generally be advanced enough to have to do this. He should be playing to what is in front of him at all times. Which unlike Palace at Selhurst Park - won’t be a midfield duo of Andre Gomes and Doucoure - but a trio most likely consisting of Gana, Onana and Iwobi.

Gana will never be far away, and in space to receive a pass.

Seamus is more than capable of doing this. As is Mason who will offer a bit more athleticism if not as much heart and ability as Seamus.

Bottom line - if he compromises they system that has worked so well for him and a number of his players in the few games then this will be an huge mistake.

Eddie Dunn
30 Posted 28/09/2022 at 18:10:58
The key will be Gordon tracking back to give Seamus cover. It might harm our attacking threat down our right but we weill still have Maupay and Iwobi in the middle as well as Gray on the left. The key is keeping it tight.
We had our win, a point on the road will do nicely.
Jeff Armstrong
31 Posted 28/09/2022 at 18:26:36
I fancy us this Saturday at Southampton, Maupay to notch again.
Neil Lawson
32 Posted 28/09/2022 at 18:35:04
Federer and Williams were desperate to continue at the highest level but when you are approaching 40 that is a tough, if nigh impossible ask. Is Seamus nearly 40 ? It would seem that according to many of the contributors that he must be as they are so keen to write him off. What's that expression " no substitute for experience ? ". Seamus will slot in seamlessly and will not let us down.
Jeff Armstrong
33 Posted 28/09/2022 at 18:50:40
Neil, 32 correct, you’d think we were bring Tony Hibbert back in or something reading some posts, Seamus is an athlete with 2 good years left in him, he will be chomping at the bit on Saturday, armband back on , and feeling part of the revolution.
Joe McMahon
34 Posted 28/09/2022 at 19:29:19
It's a good job Scotland aren't in the world cup.

I am concerned with Seamus still in the squad, yes he's blue and loyal etc, but he was woeful at times last season, Jim is correct.

Robert Tressell
35 Posted 28/09/2022 at 19:33:52
Dale @22, I said it might well be Holgate over Coleman. I'm sure others did too.

Personally I'm not sure it makes a huge difference. Coleman used to be brilliant but sadly, and meaning no disrespect, he isn't anymore. Both are fairly safe defensive choices. Neither will give us anything like the attacking threat of Patterson.

The closest we have to Patterson is Kyle John. He is a bit like where Pennington was when he broke through with us - pretty decent, easily good enough at u23 level but probably not expected to make it at Everton. Way behind where Kenny was at the same age. It'd be very surprising if he gets selected.

The main thing is getting Patterson back fit.

Andy Crooks
36 Posted 28/09/2022 at 20:08:52
Mike @16, spot on.

The first person to know Seamus is done will be Seamus. When he does that will be it. Some posters, with reference to Crystal Palace etc, seem to think that having a bad game over the age of 30 means "your legs have gone". Utterly dick-headed cliche that takes no account of any factor other than age.

Anthony Dove
37 Posted 28/09/2022 at 21:04:13
Stu @15.

He would be a fall-back full-back then?

Jerome Shields
38 Posted 29/09/2022 at 14:27:43
Coleman will probably do okay short term, but I expect Holgate to interchange with him according to tactics.

The other plus is that Coady and Tarkowski have settled in, and will be a lot better for both Colman and Holgate to play with than previous incompetents. I think Colman will probably edge over Holgate, because he is less error-prone.

Dave Cashen
39 Posted 29/09/2022 at 15:42:34
Have to disagree slightly Andy.

I think Seamus showed signs of creaking a few times last season. The more he played the more difficult it became for him. That said. He still has a lot to offer. Used sparingly he still has the desire and ability to stand in. He won't let anybody down.

Holgate's improvement under Frank has not been as dramatic as Iwobi's, but it has still been marked. I suspect that is because he has not been moved around the back four and has been able to focus on defending centrally. For that reason, I would definitely play Seamus at St Mary's.

Holgate can be called upon if anything happens to Coady or Tarkowski.

Stu Darlington
40 Posted 29/09/2022 at 15:55:33
Nice one Anthony!
Mike Gaynes
41 Posted 29/09/2022 at 16:10:01
Tommy C, good points about the improved quality of the midfield providing Seamus, and the defense in general, with more support. The Iwobi, Gana, Onana combination is working so well already.

BTW, ESPN's article about the Nigeria - Algeria friendly this week included this passage:

Alex Iwobi was -- as he has been this season for Everton -- quietly sensational... Iwobi broke two lines of the Algerian press with one pass to set up a goal in the scrimmage, and then owned the midfield in the second game to leave Nigerians purring in appreciation of their midfield maestro.

Who would have believed a year ago that the words "Alex Iwobi" and "midfield maestro" would have appeared in such close proximity? He really is a remarkable resurrection story.

Tommy Carter
42 Posted 29/09/2022 at 20:58:25
Mike.

I am not getting too carried away with Iwobi.

His performances have been excellent in relation to how badly he was performing generally before Lampard arrived.

In that context, he has been awesome.

In the context of £35M player – there needs to be a little more quality for me.

In terms of endeavour, heart, physicality and robustness he's as good as they get.

But the quality is still lacking.

Christy Ring
43 Posted 29/09/2022 at 22:15:57
Posted yesterday but never published because of problems with app. Couldn't believe the negativity towards Seamus. Some of the comments berating Coleman as a footballer were unbelievable. They remember one poor game against Palace, but they missed the performance of his teammates in the same game, equally as poor. They must have had their blinkers on in our massive game at home to Palace, and his desire and determination to win the ball ahead of Zaha, who fouled him, and DCL scored the winner from the freekick. Remember Lampard singling him out in the dressing room? He deserves to start on Saturday, still well capable of playing in the Premiership. It'll be a big change for him to play with two proper centrebacks and a midfield with power and pace. People seem to forget that Seamus had to play nearly every game last season, even when not fully fit, even at 32. People have a short memory.
Tom Bowers
44 Posted 29/09/2022 at 22:58:22
I think Patterson still has a way to go to match Seamus in his heyday and I have no problem with Seamus doing a fine job whilst Patterson is out.

It is very unfortunate that Patterson got injured just when he was making his mark and I would sooner some of our players cried off before some of these ''internationals'' as we always suffer.
Thank God Mykolenko didn't get crocked when we have other players out on loan.

James Flynn
45 Posted 29/09/2022 at 23:17:21
Christy (43) - Agree with that.

Small note, Seamus is 34 in two weeks.

Bill Gienapp
46 Posted 29/09/2022 at 23:18:09
Christy (43) - I was going to make the same point. I know Coleman made some mistakes in the Palace game, but my enduring memory is him going tooth and nail with Zaha and earning the free kick that won us the game.
Mike Gaynes
47 Posted 29/09/2022 at 23:58:46
Tommy #42, there was nothing lacking in the quality of his pass for Maupay's gamewinner, or the other two shots he set up. He's the best passer in this club, and it's not even close.
Tommy Carter
48 Posted 30/09/2022 at 09:44:44
@47 Mike

I don't think he is.

He has a very unique passing style. He plays the direct pass to a blue shirt regardless if the opposition is in the way.

They get blocked often and he gives up possession when he does this. However it's amazing how many of these elite players fail to stop this kind of pass and he somehow manages to play it through them and it reaches his man.

When this happens it is a great pass.

Generally his ability to keep possession is much better this season and I think that is a reflection of the players around him being good enough and mobile enough to give him better options.

Don't get me wrong, I think he's been very good. But talk of massive contract renewals is a bit premature for me. I don't think there's be a queue of clubs willing to spend a transfer fee on him


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