Huge Scotland boost as 21-cap ace makes first start since January after injury-plagued year

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has been handed a major boost ahead of the Nations League playoff games against Greece in March after seeing one of his injury-plagued stars make their first start in almost a year.

Former Rangers full-back Nathan Patterson has endured a troubled year after suffering a serious hamstring injury at the beginning of 2024, an injury which ruled him out of Scotland’s squad for Euro 2024 in the summer, and has found his recovery a slow process after falling down the pecking order at Goodison Park.

The 23-year-old has not started a game for the Toffees since a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on January 17 after picking up the injury, and upon his return to fitness has played just 85 minutes of football, with experienced defenders Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman preferred in the starting line-up preferred by Sean Dyche.

With game time at a premium, the ex-Ibrox academy graduate had been tentatively linked with a return to Rangers this month in order to gain much needed game time. The Scotland international was reported to be open to the move, though Dyche said earlier in the week that the players would only be allowed to depart once the club had completed their own signings.

Nathan Patterson made his first start for Everton in over a year last night. Cr: Getty Images. | Getty Images

However, with Dyche dismissed from his role as Everton manager on Thursday afternoon, Patterson found himself immediately restored to the starting XI for last night’s FA Cup third round tie with Peterborough, playing 73 minutes at Goodison Park as goals from Beto and Illiman Ndiaye secured a comfortable 2-0 win and a passage through to the next round of the famous competition.

During his time on the pitch, Patterson provided some eye-catching stats. Playing in a right-wing back role for interim boss Leighton Baines, he created more chances (3) than any other player in the match, completed 84% of passes accurately and won 100% of his tackles and aerial duels.

The news of his performance will be music to the ears of Tartan Army head coach Clarke, who has already saw key players John McGinn and Tommy Conway ruled out for a number of weeks after suffering hamstring injuries of their own over the festive fixture. Clarke already knows he will be without Brentford right-back Aaron Hickey for the two-legged clash with Greece due to a long-term hamstring problem, so the news of Patterson’s return to first team action and positive display will offer the Tartan Army a much needed lift.

A £15million signing from Rangers in 2015, Patterson will now hope to be handed more opportunities at Goodison as the club look to pull themselves away from the relegation zone. The 23-year-old could also be further boosted by reports that Scottish head coach David Moyes is set to make a remarkable return to Goodison Park after Dyche’s sacking, 11 years after he left the club to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.