Patterson pledges to stay and fight for his place at Everton

Despite the injuries and lack of stability at right-back, Patterson has seen his chances severely limited as Everton manager Sean Dyche preferred Ashley Young or lately Ben Godfrey in that position.

One of the things that has most frustrated me about how the Blues boss has managed the team recently has been the lack of opportunity for Patterson.

I am a big fan of the former Rangers star and I think he is exactly the sort of player that the current Toffees team needs a lot more of.

He offers pace and a genuine attacking attitude and is always looking always to try and get forward providing good quality balls from out wide.

This is something that Everton is severely lacking in as the chronic lack of goals we have seen especially over the last four or five months, underlines.

Patterson has now gone public with his frustration at the lack of playing time he has experienced at Goodison Park this season.

It is absolutely critical that Dyche finds a way through tactical changes and player selections, to create and score more goals or else this Blues side will I believe be facing relegation.

The Scottish international is precisely the sort of player who just might be able to contribute to generating those desperately needed additional goals.

I have said numerous times that it is way past time for the manager to reconsider his approach and start showing a bit more attacking intent in his formation and selections.

And Patterson should be an integral part of that reflection and change, which I am desperately hoping we will see starting with the trip to Bournemouth on Saturday.

While there are a number of different possible tactical approaches but if Dyche decides to continue with a flat back four then one alternative to his recent team's would be playing Patterson on the right hand side of midfield.

The current starter there jack Harrison has contributed very little recently either in terms of creating or scoring goals and so the Scot should get a chance instead.

That would also enable Dyche to continue using Godfrey, Young or I hope preferably, Seamus Coleman at right-back.

Patterson probably isn't going to transform this Everton side into a goal-scoring machine. However, he would surely offer more dynamic, attacking intent than any of the other alternatives.