Agencies-Gaza post
Everton ideal club for fantastic Patterson
Scotland Under-21 manager Scot Gemmill said Nathan Patterson was proud of the “character and physicality and technical ability” to grow into a key figure for Frank Lampard’s Everton team.
Patterson recreated four games for Gemmill’s age-group side before promotion to the senior set-up at the age of 19 last year.
The right-back, who changed boyhood club Rangers for Everton in January, arrived at Goodison Park following a standing as one of his country’s most formidable up-and-coming talents.
Gemmill, an executed former Everton midfielder, confirmed talk of Patterson as a player erupting with potential.
Patterson owns the “emotional intelligence and edge” to grow at the highest level, insists Gemmill, who expects the 20-year-old Glaswegian – excellent in Everton’s pre-season win at Blackpool on Sunday – to progressively lengthen an already extensive list of rates.
“Nathan plays with energy and commitment and physicality,” Gemmill said, “Add his technical level to those attributes and his performances stand out”.
“He’s always had tremendous athleticism and is quick. And he can repeatedly do it [get up and down the field] over the course of a game”.
“Some players fatigue. Nathan can run all day”.
“He is a modern defender who can really add to the team’s attack because he is very confident on the ball”, he said.
“Nathan can dribble and beat his man and cross and shoot – and do all those things at high speed”.
He affirmed his offensive talent, and how sufficient and effective he can be in attacking areas, in the games he played for Rangers and Scotland.
“Besides, he is a quick learner, so with the manager and coaching staff and senior players Everton has, he is in a fantastic position to push on.”
Patterson attended one of seven designated Scottish FA Performance Schools, Holyrood Secondary in their house city Glasgow.
Scotland coaches privy to Patterson’s daily development consistently established the player in under-age teams, even while Rangers waited for the full-back to add some brawn to a slender frame.
Gemmill originally observed Patterson in the younger national sides and had no suspicions he was visiting a footballer with all the makings of a top-level professional.
That view was confirmed by working with Patterson first-hand. Indeed, Gemmill’s admiration for the emerging flyer advanced after reaching to know him at close quarters.
