Patterson woes continue as Everton full-back out of Scotland Euros squad

Patterson was signed from Rangers and joined Everton in early January 2022 as did Vitalli Mykolenko. Both were Rafa Benetiz's last signings before his ill-fated rein at Goodison Park came to an inevitable end.

The young Scot was brought into strengthen a position which was of concern particularly given Seamus Coleman's age. While Mykolenko was to replace the departed Lucas Digne who had left for Aston Villa after falling out with Benetiz.

Since then although Mykolenko has had his ups and downs, the Ukraine international has established himself as pretty much first-choice at left-back now.

Meanwhile, things have not gone nearly so well for Patterson who has seen his efforts to get regular football at his new club interrupted by constant injury issues.

In addition, even when he has been fit, the Scot has seen his opportunities limited with successive managers seeming unconvinced about him, especially current boss Sean Dyche.

The Blues manager has instead preferred to rely on Coleman - when he's been healthy which is pretty rare these days too - or Ashley Young and even most recently centre-back Ben Godfrey.

Then last month Patterson was injured again ruling him out for the rest of the Toffees season and leaving his hopes of playing for his country in this summer's Euros in limbo.

And with the season finishing came strong rumours in the media that the Toffees were potentially looking at signing Japanese right-back Yukinari Sugawara who is currently playing in Holland.

All this has cast massive doubt on his Everton career and raised questions about whether he will be playing in royal blue when the club embarks on the final campaign at the Grand Old Lady this August.

Now it has been confirmed that he is not in the provisional squad announced by coach Steve Clarke and so he won't be on the plane to Germany in June.

Patterson could be forgiven for thinking he is cursed or something after all this bad luck. Where he can go from here is difficult to say.

Even if he fully recovers and overcomes the apparent chronic physical weaknesses that appear to constantly dog him, he doesn't seem to have much future at Everton, at least while Dyche is in charge.

However, there seems little chance that Dyche will be leaving this summer, unless someone new comes in to buy the club and decides to replace him.

Perhaps then he might end up being made available for transfer this summer but his injury problems could well mean other clubs shy away from spending money on him.