Nathan Patterson: Pundit worried Rangers ‘mistakes’ are haunting Everton starlet after latest snub
Frank McAvennie has suggested Everton should have loaned out Nathan Patterson during the January transfer window.
That’s according to former West Ham hitman Frank McAvennie, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the defender’s lack of game time.
Patterson, 20, is yet to make his Everton debut after joining the club from Rangers last month.
He was signed by Rafael Benitez but following his sacking, Frank Lampard is now in charge at Goodison Park.
Patterson was on the bench against Brentford on Saturday (5 February) but failed to step onto the pitch.
While McAvennie claims Lampard’s appointment will benefit Patterson, he suggested a loan move may have served the youngster well.
“He still hasn’t played, has he?” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“So he’s gone from the bench at Rangers to the bench at Everton. I don’t blame him for moving.
“He was never going to get a game there. Maybe he should have been loaned out by Everton if he wasn’t going to play.
“It worries me that he isn’t playing and the Rangers mistake is being repeated but I’ve said before I think he has a future there.
“Lampard loves working with those youngsters. He did it at Derby and Chelsea so I’m sure he will be at all of the academy games.
“Obviously Patterson needs to work hard but I think his chances of playing have increased now.”
Rangers announced Patterson, 20, had joined Everton for a club-record fee on Tuesday 4 January.
As revealed by Football Insider (4 January), the right-back has signed a £28,000-a-week contract at Goodison Park.
In other news, Kieran Maguire claims Everton “guaranteed” significant windfall after deal agreed.