Noel Whelan

Tue 29 March 2022 7:00, UK

Noel Whelan has suggested Nathan Patterson is in line for his Premier League debut for Everton against West Ham after impressing on international duty.

The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted Frank Lampard will be keeping a close eye on the 20-year-old’s performances for Scotland.

Patterson impressed in his 66-minute runout during Scotland’s 1-1 draw with Poland on Thursday night (14 March).

The defender is still yet to make his first league appearance for Everton.

However, Whelan suggested that could change when the Toffees travel to West Ham on April 6.

Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “This is a learning process, isn’t it, for him and for Frank Lampard?

“He’s trying to figure out what the best team is, what players he can trust, how to utilise them the best. You’ve got to find out what is the best squad is.

“You need to find who’s going to be the most hard-working, hard to break down, people you can trust the most defensively and offensively.

“Frank Lampard is under a lot of pressure. The fact Patterson’s put in a performance like that for Scotland will probably be something that he watched very carefully.

“These two weeks have probably come a good time for him because he can watch some of the internationals. Some of his players are out there playing as well. Maybe Patterson has done enough to get a start in the next game.

“It gives them that kind of option with Patterson. They brought him in because he’s a good, young player and he proved that last night.

“But when you’re under the pressure at a football club to make changes and throw in some young players, sometimes it can go two ways.

“Lampard has a difficult choice right now in terms of picking sides that are going to show some fight. We didn’t see too much of it in the FA Cup.

“He gave them all a full grilling afterwards and showed his displeasure in their performances and attitude.”

In other news, Everton tipped to sell senior star after shock update.