- Scotland face Morocco tonight at Foxborough with top spot in Group C up for grabs
- Aaron Hickey is expected to keep his place at right-back ahead of Patterson
- Patterson’s only involvement so far has been a brief cameo off the bench
Scotland take on Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough tonight, kicking off at 11pm BST, looking to build on John McGinn’s winner against Haiti and move closer to topping World Cup Group C.
For Everton fans, the player to keep an eye on is Nathan Patterson – not because he’s starting, though, but because he isn’t.
Hickey ahead in the pecking order
Patterson is fit and in Steve Clarke’s 26-man squad, but that hasn’t meant minutes. Brentford’s Aaron Hickey has been Clarke’s first-choice right-back through the tournament so far and looks set to keep the shirt again tonight. Patterson’s only action at this World Cup has been a short cameo off the bench against Haiti.
It’s an awkward spot for him to be in. His club season has already been hit by fitness problems, and Moyes has been looking at other options at right-back, including Ivory Coast’s Guela Doue and Torino’s Raoul Bellanova.
A run of starts at the World Cup could have given Patterson something to point to going into pre-season. Instead, he’s been stuck on the bench while Hickey takes the games against some of the toughest attacking sides in the competition.
Why it could still change
There’s time left for that to shift. Morocco have real pace and quality out wide, with Achraf Hakimi a constant threat down the flank, and a long tournament often brings rotation or injuries that open things up.
If Hickey has a tough night, or Clarke decides to freshen things up later in the group, Patterson is next in line.
For now, this is more about waiting than starting. Scotland sit top of Group C and a win tonight would put them close to a first-ever World Cup knockout stage, but for Everton fans, the bigger question is simpler: does their man get off the bench at all.
Stay with Read Everton for the latest Everton news as the World Cup and the transfer window both continue.
