Patterson plans next move

The 21-year-old full-back, who had scintillated for the team in the absence of captain Seamus Coleman in the final month of the season, suffered a hamstring injury in the penultimate game of the season – Ball The team drew 1-1 with the Wolves.

He made 21 appearances for the Blues last season and five for Scotland, taking his tally to 13.

Now, looking ahead, Patterson says he’s in an ideal environment to build on a promising platform.

“I know what the manager expects from his players and the full-backs, especially, “It’s important to know how he wants us to play and what he wants from me.

“We quickly learned how he likes to work and how he keeps things balanced. You see more after the positive moments. When you win you’re happy and in a good mood, but once it’s done, he It will continue to the next task and the focus will quickly rotate.

“One win doesn’t mean you can easily go into the next game and get the three points – it’s a good thing to have that mentality because it keeps the standard high.

“It’s a two-way street – after we fail, it means we stick together and keep trying in the same consistent way.”

After transferring from Rangers to Everton in January 2022, Patterson signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with Everton. Patterson has been rapidly promoted from the youth team to the adult team.

Joining Rangers as a right-winger, he was pushed to right-back when the game went to 11-a-side and admits the new position suited him immediately, with the prospect of defending one-on-one particularly appealing.

While still a teenager, Patterson made an impressive breakthrough at club and international level.

However, he had to bide his time following his move to Goodison Park and says he has since put on six kilograms of muscle to optimize his physique for the rigors of the Premier League.

Speaking of the difference between England’s and Scotland’s top-flight football, Patterson explained: “You see a lot more quality. The pace of the game is much faster and every game is closer.”

“It’s much harder to win a game in the Premier League because there’s so much quality in every team. That’s the pressure that comes with it.

“You have to work as hard as you can to get the upper hand on others and to come out on top in individual battles.

“I’m young and still learning, but I’m playing against these top players and it’s only going to make me better.

“I work hard with the coaching staff. There’s some preparation, like watching videos and things like that, watching how the opponents play and trying to find the tricks to stop them.

“During the game you have to give your full attention to compete with the best players in the world.”