Scotland manager Steve Clarke has been handed a boost ahead of next month's European Championship qualifiers after Nathan Patterson made his long-awaited return to action on Friday night, helping Everton Under 21's secure a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
Toffees boss Sean Dyche was in attendance for the Premier League 2 fixture, with Patterson and James Garner both handed over an hour of playing time after spells on the treatment table. Patterson had become a mainstay in the Everton starting XI this season before picking up a knee injury during a defeat to Brighton on January 3. But his six week rehabilitation has gone to plan and it looks like he could be edging closer to competing with Seamus Coleman for the right-back slot once again.
Everton opened the scoring after just two minutes and Patterson's marauding run almost set up a second moments later, however Spurs equalised on the half hour mark before the clash petered out in the second half, with chances few and far between. The 21-year-old is also now likely to be included in Clarke's national team squad when Scotland host Cyprus and Spain at Hampden Park next month. Patterson has earned 11 caps for his country since making his debut against Luxembourg in June 2021.
A report from an Everton blogger detailed that Patterson did clutch his right knee worryingly seven minutes into the second half but was able to carry on before his scheduled substitution on the hour mark. And that was completely as planned and at worst a precautionary measure as he will be needed in the Premier League. They also state that the former Rangers full-back looked "rusty" at times, which is expected after a lengthy absence.
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