NATHAN PATTERSON’S bad luck appears to have struck once again.
Having finally managed to break into Frank Lampard’s Everton side this season, the 20-year old was stretchered off in Scotland’s Nations League clash with Ukraine.
Patterson was initially able to stand up and walk off the pitch
He subsequently went off on a stretcher
Patterson left Rangers for the Toffees in January in a then-club record sale for the Ibrox club.
He initially struggled to make any sort of impact at Goodison Park, being restricted last season to a sole FA Cup appearance against non-league Boreham Wood – and even then he was hooked at half-time.
Just as he looked set to finally get his Premier League debut, he suffered an ankle injury in training in early April.
It turned out to be a nasty one that required surgery and his season was over.
Patterson has returned with a vengeance this campaign, however, and has firmly made the right wing back slot his own at Everton, even after the return of club legend Seamus Coleman from injury.
But cruelly, he has have suffered another setback.
Barely 20 minutes into the Nations League match at Hampden, Patterson landed awkwardly when fighting for possession.
He was initially able to walk off the pitch himself, but a stretcher was subsequently called for and he was taken off.
Boss Steve Clarke was forced into a 25th minute change with Aaron Hickey coming on.
Both Everton and Scotland will be sweating on Patterson’s fitness with some big games on the horizon.
It’s the Republic of Ireland on Saturday followed by a return clash with Ukraine next Tuesday.
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