Forgotten Nathan Patterson could be set for another chance at Everton with Frank Lampard conceding he is still to find his "right formula."
It's been a rough start for Patterson at Goodison Park since leaving Rangers in January, making just one appearance so far.
During that clash with Boreham Wood he was hooked at half-time, and has been left out of the last two Everton squads in defeats to Wolves and Tottenham.
When asked if his consistent tweaks to the squad showed he is "searching for the right formula", Lampard said: "Yeah, a lot of the tweaks and formation changes have been forced on us because of injuries.
"Trying to find the stability has not been easy."
Patterson looks likely to be drafted back into the squad following Jonjoe Kenny's red card in the defeat.
Lampard offered little support to the former Celtic loanee as they remained outside of the bottom three on goal difference.
He said: “It’s a lunge that maybe if you go back in time, he’ll wish he didn’t lunge.
“As a player who cares deeply for the club, he’s got it wrong.
“The foul looks worse than actually what it was but no qualms about it. It is what it is.”
