Everton have completed 2025 as the attention quickly turns away from Tuesday’s win and onto the January transfer window.
David Moyes needs some new additions for his side in January as his squad continues to be decimated by injuries.
It looks as if the first January arrival is already set as Everton prepare to recall Harrison Armstrong from his loan stint with Preston North End.
Plenty of players departed Everton over the summer and there could be even more to follow over the coming weeks.
The 62-year-old Everton boss may now be more cautious than ever about allowing players to leave in January as his injury list continues to grow.
And there was one development on Tuesday at the City Ground which may well rule out the potential exit for one player.
Nathan Patterson’s Everton future takes fresh twist
Ahead of the window opening, Nathan Patterson’s Everton future has been speculated having almost left over the summer.
Patterson has not been a regular for Everton in the slightest and only made his first start of the season on Tuesday night.
Michael Keane missed Everton’s win over Forest through injury, which forced Jake O’Brien back into his natural spot at centre-back.
What on earth is going on with Everton’s injuries this season? 😡
This is getting beyond a joke now!
Now the only senior right-back at Moyes’ disposal, Patterson played the large majority of the match against Sean Dyche’s side.
It has been made no secret that Everton are keen to sign a new right-back in the January transfer window.
However, even if they do land a new option, injuries elsewhere may well have just made Patterson an important member of Moyes’ squad again.
Everton’s defensive issues could salvage Patterson’s Everton future
With Keane absent and Everton still await Jarrad Branthwaite’s return from injury, an opportunity may be opening up at right-back.
Who knows how long it may take Everton to sign a new right-back in January; if Everton are even able to sign a new right-back.
What should Everton do with Nathan Patterson in January after his display vs Forest? 👏
The Scotland international put in a solid showing against Forest given it was his first start of the season and against a player as good as Callum Hudson-Odoi.
By no means does this make Patterson the solution for Everton in the long-term, but the rate at which players are falling to injury will surely worry Moyes over his options.
Patterson will have one year remaining on his deal in the summer, which may well encourage the Blues just to keep him around for the remainder of the campaign.
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