Everton coaches were blown away by 21-year-old Nathan Patterson during training while on a pre-season tour in Switzerland.
The Toffees spent last week at a training camp in the Swiss Alps ahead of Friday’s friendly fixture against Nyon.
Indeed, Sean Dyche’s side won 2-1 courtesy of a first senior goal from Katia Kouyate followed by a Neal Maupay penalty.
No doubt the Everton boss will have been pleased to begin pre-season with a win, though the taskmaster will likely use the time to prioritise the fitness of his players.
Pre-season is always a good opportunity for players to impress their manager, and 21-year-old Nathan Patterson has seemingly impressed the Everton coaching staff during their time in Switzerland.
In a video posted on the club’s official YouTube account, Everton’s players participate in numerous drills and training methods, and Patterson can be seen as a standout individual.
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During one training method, Patterson receives the ball in the full-back position and beats two men before running into space and calmly scoring into a miniature net, much to the delight of the coaching staff.
Nathan Patterson will feel like a new signing at Everton this season
The Scottish international joined the Blues in January 2022 from Glasgow Rangers in a £16m deal and is viewed as Seamus Coleman’s long-term successor.
Injuries may have impeded the defender’s progress during the last campaign, but the Scottish international impressed when he got the opportunity.
Indeed, during the 5-1 demolition of Brighton & Hove Albion, Patterson marked Japanese talent Kaoru Mitoma out of the game, and was praised by manager Sean Dyche for his display.
Speaking to BT Sport afterwards and reported here via GlasgowLive, Dyche said: “I thought Pato (Patterson) was terrific, coming in for Seamus who has been amazing since he got to the club.
(Kaoru) Mitoma has been arguably one of the best wide players in the Premier League this year and I thought Pato was tremendous.”
Hopefully this can be a big season for the 21-year-old defender, and if he continues to impress Sean Dyche, the Scot could make the right-back position his own this year.