Nathan Patterson opens up on injury after routine Dele Alli challenge, surgery, Everton assurances and Scotland

Nathan Patterson would have been excused for thinking he was cursed when, at the start of April, he made what appeared to be a routine challenge on Dele Alli near the end of an Everton training session.

Perhaps there was some additional zest and enthusiasm from the 20-year-old who had been informed by club manager Frank Lampard he would finally be making his Premier League debut the following day against West Ham United.

But that scenario was shattered along with the ligaments in Patterson’s ankle as he suffered an injury which required surgery. He is now ready to make his return to action in Scotland’s UEFA Nations League opener against Armenia at Hampden on Wednesday night, itching to make up for lost time and the lack of minutes he has had on the pitch since making his £12 million move from Rangers to Everton in January.

“I knew straight away it was a bad one,” he reflected. “It was the last five minutes at the end of training and I was due to play the next day. I had waited a long time for the opportunity.

“But these things happen in football. It was just unfortunate, a block tackle and I went over on the ankle and snapped ligaments. Dele came straight up to me after training and apologised but it wasn’t his fault.

"It was my first proper injury, my first surgery. It’s another thing to experience in my career and I’d rather it came early and then I can push on when I’m fit.

"When you experience setbacks and disappointment when you’re young, you are going to then be used to it when stuff like that happens when you’re older. It stands you in good stead for when you are pushing on in your career.”

Patterson’s resilience has certainly been tested since he joined Everton where his only taste of first team action so far