When Nathan Patterson burst on to the scene at Rangers a few years ago, his career path rarely deviated from a positive trajectory.
A product of the Ibrox club’s youth academy, Patterson’s breakthrough season coincided with the club winning their 55th league title under Steven Gerrard in 2021.
In the long-term, Patterson was viewed as the natural heir to James Tavernier at right-back. He was also a fully-fledged Scotland international, playing his way into Steve Clarke’s squad for the Euros later that summer.
Whilst Rangers would have hoped to retain him for another year or two, his performances soon began to attract attention from elsewhere, with Everton paying £11million to sign him in January 2022.
Earning a big-money move to the English Premier League just a couple of months after he had celebrated his 20th birthday, the sky was the limit for Patterson after signing a five-and-a-half-year deal.
But his time on Merseyside has not gone entirely to plan. Now four years down the line, he has yet to fully establish himself as a regular starter with Everton.
Nathan Patterson is hoping to turn his frown upside down on Scotland duty this week
The constant upheaval with managers probably hasn’t helped. Patterson was signed by Rafa Benitez, before going on to play under Duncan Ferguson, Frank Lampard, Sean Dyche and, latterly, David Moyes.
It’s injuries, though, which have hampered him more than anything. There were a few different niggles, but none quite as debilitating as the hamstring injury he suffered in April 2024.
That ruled him out of the Euros in Germany and it’s fair to say it’s been a long road back for Patterson since then in terms of his involvement with Scotland.
Indeed, it is now two years to the very day since he last started a match for his national team, a 1-0 friendly defeat to Northern Ireland at Hampden.
Never let it be said that he lacks mental strength. These past few years have instilled bucketloads of resilience in the 24-year-old.
During some of those dark days, his trials and tribulations with the Toffees could easily have chewed him up and spat him out. But, now fit again and keen to make his mark, Patterson believes the best is yet to come from him in a Scotland jersey.
Heading into the upcoming double-header against Japan and Ivory Coast over the next few days, he would be the first to admit that the only way is up.
The Everton full-back has struggled with injury since making his £11m move from Rangers
‘I’ve matured a bit now, I’ve experienced a lot of ups and downs,’ he said. ‘Quite a lot of downs, to be honest, in terms of injuries.
‘But it’s only going to be benefit me for my future ahead. What have I learned about myself? That I’ve got a lot of patience and that I’m quite strong-minded.
‘I always believe in myself as well. You need to have that when you’re at a high level. You need to have that confidence.
‘Any time you go on the pitch, you need to be ready to show what you can do. You need to be patient for an opportunity and, when it comes, you have to take it.
‘That’s the same in every industry but it’s more scrutinised in football. I’m just looking to try and get some games now.
‘You just have to get on with it and make sure that when you come back, you’re ready. You know that you’ll come back in a better place than you were before.
‘I feel really good now, I’m just looking forward to getting on the pitch. There’s a World Cup coming up very soon and I want to do everything I can to be part of that.’
Patterson would almost certainly have been part of the Euros in Germany a couple of years ago, only to be ruled out by the hamstring injury.
Patterson’s last outing for Scotland was a night to forget as he toiled against Northern Ireland
It would have been a difficult experience watching from home, but it’s something he believes can spur him on to play his way into Steve Clarke’s World Cup plans.
‘It was gutting to miss the Euros, I would have loved to have been there and been involved,’ he said. ‘These things happen, though, and my main aim is to make sure I’m in the squad for the World Cup.
‘Injuries are part of football. It’s hugely disappointing when you don’t make squads because you want to be part of qualifying. That’s why I want to make sure I’m there this summer.
‘Playing in a World Cup is huge motivation. It’s something you want to look forward to and make sure you are involved in. It is what you are working towards between now and the end of the season.’
Scotland will begin their World Cup preparations when they take on Japan at Hampden on Saturday.
The Ivory Coast will then be the opposition on Tuesday night at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, a home from home for Patterson.
If he can stay fit, he would undoubtedly be an asset to Clarke’s squad. He is strong and quick and offers a good attacking threat from right-back.
The questions around his game have always been defensively. Especially in that game against Northern Ireland a couple of years ago, he had a tough night.
Despite the fact he is now back fit and available, Paterson has found game time with Everton fairly limited in recent times.
He has made only seven appearances this season and hasn’t played at all since the end of January.
Patterson broke through for Rangers under Steven Gerrard as the Ibrox men claimed the title
As long as he’s physically in good condition, however, he doesn’t see the lack of game time as an issue.
Asked if he feels he can still play his way into the World Cup despite being on the fringes at Everton, he replied: ‘Yeah, 100 per cent. The main thing for me is just to make sure I’m at the World Cup, so whatever gets me there, I will do that.
‘It’s obviously nice to come away and I will try to get as many minutes as I can here and put on some good performances.
‘Obviously you want to play as much as you can, but it’s not really up to me, I can only do what I can do in the pitch. I’m just delighted to be back with the squad and I’m looking forward to the games ahead.
‘I feel really good. I’ve come back in and played a few games for Everton and I feel really fit. I don’t feel as if I’m at a stage where I’m doubting my body at the minute, so I’m happy with where I am.’
