Everton have seen their season curtailed with injuries throughout, just to add to the unending turmoil at Goodison Park.
Whether it’s points deductions or takeover unrest, there is always a fresh, damaging controversy to hinder Sean Dyche’s progress.
However, with six Premier League games left now, it somehow still remains in their hands.
They know what must be done, starting with tomorrow’s relegation six-pointer against Nottingham Forest.
They will have to go on without one first-team star though, with the timing of his injury a truly unfortunate one.
Nathan Patterson suffers fresh injury blow
It always feels like just when Nathan Patterson is due a run in the team, whether it be through the poor form of his teammates or an injury crisis, he too gets struck down.
Early on under Frank Lampard, a mid-season vacancy at right-back made it so the 22-year-old was finally due a run in the team for the final couple of months of the season.
However, an innocuous ankle injury curtailed his progress.
Now, with Seamus Coleman once again doubtful, another opportunity will go amiss, and that has understandably left the youngster devastated.
He would take to X to issue the following rally cry: ‘Absolutely gutted to get the news that the injury is going to be longer than first expected.
‘Just wanted to finish the season strong with Everton but that’s life. Will be supporting the boys in the remaining games. UTFT’.
Not only will Patterson now miss the rest of the Premier League season, but he faces a race to be fit for the European Championships too.
Everton’s right-back crisis deepens
Although the Scotland international was far from a starter for Everton, his absence, alongside Coleman’s, means the club are now without an actual recognised right-back.
Sure, Ashley Young has featured there for large parts of the season, as has Ben Godfrey, but neither has played the bulk of their careers in that role.
So, there are glaring deficiencies that come with playing them out of position.
For the former, his age and subsequent lack of physicality often leave him hopelessly outgunned against young, quicker wingers. He became a liability in his final few games at full-back before Dyche saw sense.
Godfrey, however, might well boast that athleticism, but is unsurprisingly unaware when it comes to the positioning of a right-back. If his speed does not bail him out, he can also become a dog leg in the defence.
Patterson has unfortunately missed a huge opportunity here with the torrid timing of another injury, and hopefully upon his return next season can prove to be his true breakout year.