Steve Clarke explains why time is on Scotland's side, despite Nathan Patterson's lack of Everton minutes

Steve Clarke has stressed that playing Nathan Patterson from the start for Scotland despite so little playing time at his club was a straightforward decision.

The Scotland manager added that he has no fears about doing so again in the future if the teenager continues to struggle to break into the Everton first-team.

The full-back has found it hard to establish himself at Goodison Park since his move south from Rangers in January.

But he caught the eye again at right wing-back for Scotland in Thursday night’s 1-1 draw with Poland at Hampden Park.

Everton supporters took to social media in droves to question why Patterson was being kept out of the Everton first-team by Seamus Coleman and Jonjoe Kenny.

Patterson has played just 45 minutes for Everton. He was replaced at half-time of the FA Cup victory over Boreham Wood and hasn’t featured since under Frank Lampard.

But he was given 67 minutes against Poland as Scotland enjoyed a productive run-out in place of the postponed World Cup semi-final play-off clash with Ukraine. He could feature in the starting XI again on Tuesday when Scotland take on Austria in Vienna.

“I had no worries about Nathan, none whatsoever,” said Clarke. “I know the level he has gone down to train in and even just training at that level, working with English Premier League players, it’s a good level.

“As long as he’s doing his work properly on the training pitch then he’ll always have enough in his legs to come and play for us.

"I saw him stretching and when he starts to stretch you don’t want to risk an injury for the boy so we took him off. But his performance was really good for a boy who has had so little football.”

Patterson was an energetic presence on the right for Scotland and he proved their