Everton right-back Nathan Patterson has been singled out for praise by Sean Dyche following last night’s 5-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 21-year-old, who joined the Blues from Glasgow Rangers in January 2022 in a £16m deal, started in the place of the injured Seamus Coleman who was stretchered off the pitch during last week’s 2-2 draw at Leicester City.
Indeed, the Scottish international faced a stern test, going up against Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma, but stuck to his task throughout the game, with Dyche hailing his performance as ‘tremendous’.
Speaking with BT Sport at full-time, the Everton manager said: “There was a lot of good performances tonight, but a really good collective performance.
I thought Pato (Patterson) was terrific, coming in for Seamus (Coleman) 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.”
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Japanese international Mitoma has indeed been one of the breakout Premier League stars this season, but Patterson barely gave the 25-year-old an inch and was more than worthy of praise from his manager.
Patterson could finally, and adequately, replace Seamus Coleman for Everton
Having started the season in the starting XI, Patterson has suffered with injuries throughout the campaign, but has now put in two consecutive stellar displays.
Coming on at the King Power Stadium for the injured Seamus Coleman, whom Patterson was brought in to be the long-term successor, Patterson put in a professional performance and was a threat in attack, though his display at Brighton last night may just be his best in a blue shirt so far.
It was a fantastic team display at the Amex Stadium, so the fact that Sean Dyche singled out the 21-year-old for praise speaks volumes.