Nathan Patterson left the Hampden Park pitch on a stretcher earlier tonight in Scotland's Nations League clash against Ukraine in what could be a major blow for Everton.
The defender was named in Steve Clarke's starting line-up for the clash at Hampden Park, with a place at the top of their group and a chance at a Euro 2024 play-off on the line over the next week. Scotland will play Ukraine twice, as well as the Republic of Ireland.
Patterson started brightly for the home side, making his typically energetic runs into the final third while containing Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhaylo Mudryk, but failed to make it to the half-hour mark before being forced off through injury. He was replaced by Brentford's Aaron Hickey, and was eventually taken down the sideline on a stretcher.
The 20-year-old looked to have suffered a knee injury, with former Everton forward James McFadden commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Patterson is pointing to the inside of his knee and that suggests it's his medial ligament. I've done that before and it's a painful one when the physio tests it. Hopefully it's not too serious."
Patterson has played every Premier League minute for Everton this season - one of only three to do so, alongside Alex Iwobi and James Tarkowski. Blues boss Frank Lampard will no doubt be waiting nervously for an update, with the injury list already growing inside the club.
Yerry Mina, Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate remain sidelined, leaving the Lampard with a skeleton-thin defence already. Seamus Coleman has been out for a long spell with a groin injury picked up while playing for Ireland in June, and was on the bench for Sunday's win against West Ham after stints with the under-21s.
READ NEXT
-
Everton stadium 'boost' from Euro 2028 explained as Liverpool and Anfield miss out
-
‘We know’ - Conor Coady makes Neal Maupay claim after first Everton goal
-
Premier League announce rule change on fans behaviour which affects Liverpool and Everton
-
League Cup revamp could help Everton but hollow victory would be bad for football
