Nathan Patterson insists he knows what Sean Dyche demands from his full-backs after having to bide his time to get a chance under the new Everton manager.
Nathan Patterson said: “I know what the manager wants from his players and his full-backs, especially. It’s important to know how he wants us to play and what he wants from me. We quickly learned how he likes to work and how he keeps things level. You see it more after a positive moment. When you win you’re happy and on a high but as soon as it’s done, he’s moving on to the next one and focus turns quickly. One win doesn’t mean you’re going to stroll into the next and get three points – and it’s good to have that mindset because it keeps standards high. It goes both ways – after a defeat it means we stick together and keep working in the same consistent way.”
Patterson was just 18 when he made his Rangers debut against Stranraer in the Scottish Cup but he admits the rigours of the Premier League are physically demanding and reveals he’s added six kilos of muscle to his frame since moving south of the border.
Nathan Patterson said: “You see more quality. The speed of the game is a lot quicker and each game is closer. It’s a lot harder to win a game in the Premier League because every side has so much quality. That’s the pressure that comes with it. You have to be at your best to get the upper hand on someone and come out on top of your individual battles. I’m still young and still learning but I’m playing against these top players and it can only make me better. I work hard with the coaching staff. There’s preparation in terms of watching videos and that kind of thing, watching how your opponent plays and trying to pick up tips to stop them. When it comes to the game you have to be fully focused to compete with players that are up there with the best in the world.”
