Opinion: Sean Dyche should keep Everton’s £15m player in the starting lineup despite the imminent return of injured star.
Everton are fortunate to have a number of highly versatile players in their squad.
Without certain players stepping up, it’s uncertain how Everton would have managed during their ongoing injury crisis.
Various members of the squad have had to adapt to new roles to fill the gaps.
For instance, Abdoulaye Doucoure has been deployed in a defensive midfield role, Dwight McNeil has shifted into the number ten position, and Ashley Young has covered both full-back positions.
Every player has contributed in some way.
However, few have experienced as significant a shift as James Garner, who was signed in 2022 for £15 million as a midfield playmaker.
Recently, Garner has been filling in at right-back due to the club’s injury problems in that area.
Nathan Patterson, Everton’s regular right-back, has been plagued by injuries.
He has missed nearly six months of action since rupturing his hamstring in April.
While manager Sean Dyche provided an update on his progress earlier this month, The Athletic recently shared further details about his recovery.
According to their report, Patterson made a major step toward returning to first-team action by playing a full 90 minutes for Everton’s under-21 team in a match against Reading’s under-21s.
Patterson played at right wing-back during the game, even setting up a goal for teammate Harrison Armstrong.
Though the match ended 3-3 after Everton had led 3-0, the performance suggests that Patterson is nearing a full recovery.
After playing twice for the under-21s, he is expected to be available for senior action once the season resumes, as long as he experiences no setbacks in training.
Patterson, signed in 2022 under former manager Rafael Benitez for £16 million, was initially seen as the long-term successor to Seamus Coleman.
However, his return won’t automatically guarantee him a spot in the starting lineup.
Dyche has never been Patterson’s biggest supporter, even when the player was fully fit.
Moreover, the 22-year-old’s path back into the first team will be made more difficult by James Garner’s strong performances at right-back.
Garner impressed in Everton’s recent Premier League match against Newcastle United, where he was defensively solid and nearly provided an assist with a cross to Abdoulaye Doucoure, whose header was ruled offside.
Garner also dealt well with attackers Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes.
His strong performance was highlighted by his stats: he won eight of the 12 duels he contested, made five tackles, two clearances, and two interceptions, according to Sofascore.
Though Garner may not be a permanent solution at right-back given his contributions in midfield, Patterson will face a challenge in reclaiming his position after the youngster’s impressive run in the role.
