Nathan Patterson: Everton man tipped by pundit for debut v Brentford after confirmed news
Danny Mills has suggested Nathan Patterson could make his long-awaited Everton debut against Brentford tomorrow (5 February).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-England full-back whose son Stan featured alongside Patterson for Everton Under-23s claimed Frank Lampard will implement a different style of play at Goodison Park.
The new manager revealed today (4 February), via the Liverpool Echo, that he had a full squad apart from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Fabian Delph to pick from.
Calvert-Lewin is expected to miss just one game with a small knock while Doucoure and Delph are long-term absentees.
Patterson is yet to make his senior bow for the Blues since his £16million move from Rangers at the beginning of January.
Asked whether Everton fans could see the 20-year-old in action against Brentford, Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Yes, I think we could do.
“It depends what Frank has seen over the last few days in training. It’s a little bit of a free hit with it being a cup game.
“You would expect some enthusiasm but it’s not an easy team to play against.
“You’ll see a slightly different type of football with more energy around the side.
“If they get a decent result that then takes them into the game at Newcastle which is a vital game.”
Patterson scored twice and provided one assist in 27 games across all competitions for Rangers before his move to Merseyside.
The six-time Scotland international last featured in senior football on 18 December as Rangers beat Dundee United 1-0 in the Scottish Premiership.
In other news, Everton are racing to sign the next Tariq Lampety in an out-of-window deal.