Hutton didn’t have his own problems to seek when he made his first move away from Ibrox, struggling to nail down a first team place at Tottenham Hotspur before a knee injury derailed his progress just as he was beginning to make a real impact, but his progress there seems serene when held up against the issues Patterson has faced.
Persistent ankle and hamstring injuries have dogged Patterson’s career to date, culminating in the frustration of missing out on a place at the last European Championships.
After a seemingly interminable period on the fringes though, the 24-year-old is back in the fold with Scotland, and is determined to make up for lost time. Just as Hutton did, there is no doubt in Patterson’s mind that he can go on and carve out a decent career at the top level of the game.
And as much as he wouldn’t have wished to have gone through the long periods of rehabilitation and bouts of doubt over whether he would ever force his way back into the reckoning for club or country, he believes that those experiences have put him in a better place to attack this next phase of his career than he may have otherwise been.
He may not be the fresh-faced kid with the world at his feet anymore, but he is older, wiser, and feels he will ultimately be a better player for those hardships.
“I’ve matured a bit now,” Patterson said.
“I’ve experienced a lot of ups and downs. Quite a lot of downs, to be honest, in terms of injuries. But it’s only going to be benefit me for my future ahead.
“What have I learned about myself? That I’ve got a lot of patience and that I’m quite strong minded. I always believe in myself as well. You need to have that when you’re at a high level. You need to have that confidence.
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“Any time you go on the pitch, you need to be ready to show what you can do. You need to be patient for an opportunity and when it comes, you have to take it. That’s the same in every industry, but it’s more scrutinised in football. I’m just looking to try and get some games now.
“Obviously it was gutting to hear that I wouldn’t be a part of the Euros, but it’s done now. It was a big disappointment, but I just have to make sure I’m there in the summer.
“Injuries are part of football. It’s hugely disappointing when you don’t make squads because you want to be part of qualifying. That’s why I want to make sure I’m there this summer.
“You just have to get on with it and make sure that when you come back, you’re ready. You know that you’ll come back in a better place than you were before.
“I feel really good now, I’m just looking forward to getting on the pitch.”
Perhaps even more frustrating for Patterson have been the occasions when he has been fit and not been getting a look-in with either Everton or Scotland. At club level, his lack of game time remains a source of concern.
Patterson last featured in a game for Everton in late January, and he has started only five matches in all competitions this season, with just three of those coming in the Premier League.
He is adamant though that he is ready to contribute for Scotland, even if he isn’t getting on the pitch under Davie Moyes at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
“Yeah, 100 percent,” he said.
“It’s hard but that’s just football, sometimes it doesn’t go your way.
“I’m just looking forward to an opportunity coming here. I know I’m fully fit and ready to play. Hopefully I can get some minutes.”
Patterson’s contract with the Toffees runs until next June, and he is desperate to force his way into the reckoning on Merseyside, particularly with the World Cup approaching in the summer.
If his situation doesn’t improve in the second half of this season, though, then there may be a decision to be made over his immediate future.
“That’s a discussion for myself and the manager to have,” he said.
“But my focus is just on Scotland right now.
“The main thing for me is just to make sure I’m at the World Cup, so whatever gets me there, I will do that.
“It’s obviously nice to come away and I will try to get as many minutes as a I can here and put on some good performances.
“Obviously you want to play as much as you can, but it’s not really up to me, I can only do what I can do on the pitch.
“I’m just delighted to be back with the squad and I’m looking forward to the games ahead.”