Nathan Patterson is on course to win his race to be fit in time for Scotland’s World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine at Hampden on Wednesday.
The Everton right-back has not played since winning his eighth cap for Scotland against Austria in March, suffering an ankle injury in training with his club shortly afterwards.
Patterson was initially rated as highly doubtful to be ready to face Ukraine and his absence would be another blow for Scotland manager Steve Clarke who has already lost Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney to injury.
But Patterson was able to take part in training with the Scotland squad at their Edinburgh base on Sunday with coach Steven Naismith providing an optimistic update on his situation.
“Nathan’s got a chance because he has been on the pitch,” said Naismith. “The next two days will be more important for him in terms of seeing where exactly he is at.
“From what has been done so far, you’re not going to really get an idea. He’s going to turn up and be buzzing to be involved and the first few days he gets out there and it’s all great.
“It’s then how he recovers and how he feels and that will determine whether he’ll be involved or not.
“He’s modified in terms of what training he is doing at the moment but with most players it’s guided for what they need.
“There are going to be parts he has to hit because that will declare whether he is feeling fine to play or not.
“But there doesn’t seem to be any issues with that.”
Patterson has been a stand-out performer for Scotland and Naismith has no concerns over the 20-year-old’s capacity to deliver another high level display this week despite the lack of game time he has had since making his £12 million move from Rangers to Everton in January.
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