Leanne Crichton and Craig Levein praised Nathan Patterson on BBC Sportsound after the rarely-seen Everton ace thrilled as Scotland faced Poland in a friendly on Thursday night.
The Tartan Army were due to play Ukraine in their World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final, but Fifa postponed the tie. So, Steve Clarke’s men hosted Bialo-czerwoni at Hampden Park instead, with Patterson opening the action for the full-back’s seventh international outing.
Clarke included Patterson in his Scotland plans for the March international break to afford him a chance to earn minutes. The defender has struggled for game time since joining the Blues in January from Rangers in a £16m deal, worth an upfront £12m, under Rafa Benitez.
Benitez left Patterson on the bench for the only Premier League game they spent together before the Toffees sacked the Spaniard. Frank Lampard has since only offered the Glasgow native one appearance, and hauled the 20-year-old off at half-time on his debut, as well.
Patterson made his Everton bow in their FA Cup fifth round win over non-league Boreham Wood earlier this month. Lampard then omitted the youngster from their following two Premier League squads, before taking a seat on the bench in their subsequent two games.
Crichton and Levein in awe as ‘very useful’ Everton ace Patterson thrills for Scotland
Yet despite Lampard refusing to play Patterson with Seamus Coleman remaining the firm first-choice at Goodison Park, the Everton ace thrilled Crichton and Levein for Scotland on Thursday night as Clarke afforded the Gers product the first 67 minutes at home to Poland.
Levein could not get enough of what Patterson provided the Tartan Army up against Bialo-czerwoni’s left-hand channel. The former Scotland boss said:
“Patterson has got the better of his opposite man, we just need to keep feeding him the ball. He’s had two shots, a couple of crosses, and been very effective.
“His attacking skills are probably the best part of his game. In a game with wing-backs where you’re trying to attack down the sides, he’s very, very useful.”
Likewise, former Scotland women’s international Crichton loved what Patterson offered.
“Excellent,” she said. “He picks up the ball inside the attacking half, he is so composed, so direct, carries the ball with so much pace. He just can’t get his foot around the shot, drags it, and it’s into the goalkeeper’s hands. But that is what Nathan Patterson gives you.”
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