Forgotten Nathan Patterson looks to be tumbling down the pecking order at Everton with Jonjoe Kenny named Frank Lampard's star pupil.
The former Rangers right-back sealed a move worth an initial £11.5million to Goodison Park in January but has yet to make his first-team debut for the Toffees.
Having been signed by Rafa Benitez as competition for captain Seamus Coleman at right-back, the Scotland cap was dealt and early blow after the Spaniard was axed.
New Everton boss Frank Lampard hasn't given the 20-year-old a chance to come off the bench in his first three games in the dugout.
The Chelsea legend has instead turned to former Celtic loanee Kenny - who was handed a surprise start in the win against Leeds United while Patterson watched from the bench.
Lampard lauded the impact of Kenny in the unfamiliar left-back role and now sees him as a vital part of the defensive "template" he wants to take forward.
He told Everton TV: “If you are keeping clean sheets, you have a great chance in games, especially with what we have going forwards.
“I love Jonjoe’s attitude in training every day. He loves Everton and always wants to train and do better. Any session and any drill you do, he wants to give everything.
“And he is a quality player, (good with) both feet and technically very good for a defender.
“He will give you everything, positionally he was great, in terms of holding his position, then jumping out and making tackles at the right time.
“Jonjoe is perfect for any game – but especially when we needed discipline and effort and toughness, and he showed those things. I was really pleased with him.”
The lack of game time in the English Premier League will be concerning Steve Clarke ahead of the crucial World Cup play-off with Ukraine but there's plenty of time for Patterson to make his way into the manager's plans.
