Nathan Patterson Scotland Euro 2024 injury fears grow after Everton update - 'looks a bit more serious'

Patterson, who has not been a regular for the Toffees this season under manager Sean Dyche, came on at half-time for Seamus Coleman and was then replaced two minutes into stoppage time by Ben Godfrey with a muscle strain. And in an update on the official Everton website, Dyche expressed concerns that the ex-Rangers right-back could be out for a prolonged period of time, making him a potential doubt for Euro 2024, with Scotland’s opener against Germany now less than two months away.

“It was a perfect storm tonight,” said Dyche, whose team are battling against relegation in the Premier League. “Every mistake seemed to get punished, every goal seemed to go in. I think they had 14 efforts on goal, we know how many we have had, they scored six – and we got three injuries.

“That isn’t a good mix, it happens now and again in your career and lifetime in football. But that is as bad as a mix I have experienced, with the injuries. Jarrad [Branthwaite], we hope, is minor, but we have to wait and see. Shay [Coleman] has pulled his groin, we don't know yet and Patto’s looks a bit more serious. A hamstring injury, we are going to have to wait and see – let it settle tomorrow.”

Capped 21 times by his country, Patterson started Scotland’s past two matches last month against Netherlands and Northern Ireland and with first-choice right-back Aaron Hickey also facing a race against the clock due to his own hamstring injury, national team manager Steve Clarke could be without his principal options in that position. Hickey has not played at all this year, with Brentford not expecting him to be back fit before the end of the EPL season.

Should Hickey or Patterson be ruled out of the European Championships, then Celtic’s Anthony Ralston would likely start at right-back. Other options include Sturm Graz’s Max Johnston or experienced Motherwell defender Stephen O’Donnell, who played for Scotland at Euro 2020.

The news on Patterson comes on the back of midfielder Lewis Ferguson being ruled out of the tournament earlier on Monday. The Bologna midfielder will go under the knife to repair a cruciate ligament injury sustained while playing for his club against Monza in Serie A over the weekend. Fellow midfielder Billy Gilmour is also out with a knee injury at Brighton right now, although it is anticipated that he will be play again this season.

Scotland are in Group A at Euro 2024 and kick off the tournament on Friday, June 14 against hosts Germany in Munich. They then take on Switzerland in Cologne on Wednesday, June 19 before concluding the group stages against Hungary in Stuttgart on Sunday, June 23. Before that, Clarke’s men have two final warm-up matches, against Gibraltar in Faro on Monday, June 3 before facing Finland at Hampden on Friday, June 7.