Everton news: This is big ‘problem’ facing Nathan Patterson after confirmed news – Danny Mills
Danny Mills has insisted Nathan Patterson still has to win Frank Lampard over after being axed from the Everton squad as well as the starting XI against Tottenham.
The former Leeds defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the 20-year-old’s biggest “problem” is that he was not signed by the current manager.
Patterson, who joined while Rafael Benitez was in charge, made his first start for Everton against Boreham Wood last week (3 March) but was hooked at half-time.
As quoted by the Liverpool Echo on Friday (7 March), Lampard revealed it was a “practical” tactical decision.
The Everton boss then left the Scotland international out of the matchday squad for Monday’s 5-0 defeat against Spurs.
Mills backed Patterson to “come good” but admitted the change of manager at Goodison has set him back.
Mills told Football Insider’s Connor Whitley: “The problem is it wasn’t Frank Lampard that brought him, was it?
“That’s always going to take a little bit of time. It wasn’t Frank’s signing. I think he will come good in the end, he’s still relatively young.
“He’s a decent player, he’s just going to have to bide his time in that position. You’ve still got Seamus Coleman in there, club captain and senior statesman.
“He’s just going to have to be patient. I don’t think he did anything wrong (versus Boreham Wood). Sometimes you fall foul to tactical changes, to switch things up.
“He’s a decent player from what I’ve seen, he’s got lots of qualities and if he keeps working hard, he’ll be absolutely fine.”
Patterson never played under Benitez before the Spaniard was sacked in January.
Prior to Monday, the right-back had been on the bench for all of Lampard’s Premier League games at Everton.
In other news, pundit fears for Lampard after £300m “black hole” reported at Everton.