Patterson out for season but Branthwaite might be fit for Everton on Sunday

The Everton manager has revealed that young Scottish international full-back Nathan Patterson is out until next season after he came off in Monday night's dreadful defeat at Chelsea.

Patterson has been extremely unlucky with injury and this is the latest blow in his fledgling career on Merseyside leaving his long-term future at the Toffees in doubt.

In truth, the Scot hasn't had much playing time under Dyche and so his being absent through injury won't have a big adverse impact in terms of a sudden loss of a key player to the team.

I have been an long-time advocate for the former Rangers star to get more chances in the team but as with so much of the urging on the manager to try different approaches, it appears to fall on deaf ears.

One player who has become absolutely critical to this Everton side is Jarrad Branthwaite.

Since he broke into the first-team earlier in the campaign Branthwaite has been superbly consistent earning himself an England call-up recently too.

His departure early in the second half at Stamford Bridge was an ominous one given how crucial his defensive qualities and partnership at centre-back with James Tarkowski, has been.

Fortunately, it seems as though he could well be fit to play tomorrow and that will be a huge relief if it does turn out to be the case.

Although despite that, I have argued that perhaps a necessary defensive reshuffle would finally shake the manager out of his almost obsessive fixation on the 4-4-1-1 formation he has used almost all season long.

I still think of course whether Branthwaite is fit enough or not tomorrow, that alternative tactical approaches are both necessary and long overdue. But as we have waited to see change for so long, will Dyche listen?

In terms of other injury issues the Blues boss suggested that both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Idrissa Gueye should be available, although again neither is certain to make it.

Given his horrendous injury record I would be very skeptical of Calvert-Lewin being healthy enough to start as he has so often had a setback when previously hurt.

However, we have to hope he can make it because Beto cannot do the job of playing up front on his own, as he showed once again on Monday evening.

To be fair to the Portuguese summer signing though he wasn't exactly overwhelmed with chances to score!

I still think both should start to give Everton at least some semblance of a decent strikeforce up front. Again though will that happen?

One further doubt is captain and right-back Seamus Coleman. I would hope he is recovered enough to play tomorrow as he is preferable to Ashley Young in that position.

Will Dyche finally decide to try something different in order to out Monday's horror show behind us and secure a three points that are desperately needed tomorrow?