Everton are back in action this weekend with a Premier League clash against Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium.
The Merseyside club picked up their first win of the season and their second clean sheet last time out by beating West Ham United 1-0 at Goodison Park.
Now that the latest international break has come to an end, Frank Lampard will be hoping that his team can pick up where they left off against the Hammers and secure another victory.
The Toffees were dealt a blow over the recent break as right-back Nathan Patterson picked up an injury while on international duty with Scotland.
It has recently been revealed that the defender will be out of action for five weeks as a result of the ankle injury he sustained.
In terms of what Lampard’s starting XI could look like to take on the Saints, one figure that we feel should be in the team as a result of Patterson’s absence is Seamus Coleman.
With 30 league appearances to his name last season, the Irishman ended the campaign with more tackles in the defensive third of the pitch (41) than any other player at the club, as well as more blocks (59) and the second-highest number of interceptions (54).
Described by Damien Delaney as having an “enormous” amount to offer on the international stage for Ireland, we feel the same about the £70k-per-week full-back at club level, which is what he’ll need to provide on the pitch while Patterson is out.
Bearing in mind how only four clubs have a lower rate of shots at goal per 90 minutes in the league this season than Southampton (16.86), perhaps this could be an ideal opponent for Coleman to have his first appearance of the campaign against.
Moving forward, with Patterson out and the experience that the 33-year-old has, putting him in the starting XI should be one of the easiest decisions Lampard makes ahead of this weekend’s clash.
