NATHAN PATTERSON was once again left out of Everton's squad yesterday as Frank Lampard's side were defeated by Wolves in the Premier League.

Sunday’s 1-0 home loss to Wolves was an eighth defeat in nine matches and their nine-point return from the last 60 available has left them above the bottom three on goal difference only, with a first relegation in 71 years a genuine fear.

Lampard is under serious pressure, yet he still appears to be against starting former Rangers star Nathan Patterson.

The Scotland international moved to Goodison Park from Rangers in January for a £12million fee.

Patterson made his first appearance for his new club in the FA Cup against Boreham Wood.

He was handed his debut but was then subbed off at the break by Lampard.

However, the Toffees boss insisted Patterson will feel the support of the backroom staff despite the disappointing debut.

But, Patterson has been left out of the Everton squad since.

Here's what Lampard has said about Patterson: "In my role unfortunately you have to make decisions. Sometimes they're not emotional, they're practical and it was absolutely practical to have to change - and Nathan was the choice.

"I thought he did OK in the game. I was pleased for him to have his debut. We brought him in for a reason and what Nathan will feel from myself and the staff is a real engagement and desire to work with him.

"He's a young player, who's a developing player still, and he will feel our support of how we want him to play and how we want him to develop.

"Things like that happen at that stage of your career, whoever you are. As a younger player you have to take something like this on the chin and understand that this is high-level, and keep working and that's all he has to do."

Lampard is keen to stress Everton have 12 matches remaining – more than all of their relegation rivals – and there should be no sense of panic, but his side cannot afford another devastating defeat this week.

“It is my job to be confident, to be positive, to be realistic and the realistic view is we have 12 games and some games in hand on other teams around us,” he said yesterday.

“Of course they are only any good if win them and we are waiting for that moment when something turns in our favour.

“If things go in our favour on Thursday, it will look very different (to the Wolves game).

“When we are where we are at, there is a longer road to try to get out of this.

“We can’t rely on one result to change it for us in a positive manner, just the same as we can’t take on one result that we really wanted to win that didn’t go our way.

“Maybe it will turn in our favour but all we can can do is work. We can’t think about ‘maybes’ and ‘what ifs’ and what happens, about home games or away games.”