Everton boss Sean Dyche has addressed reports of a bust up with Scotland star Nathan Patterson.
Patterson, 22, has fallen down the pecking order in Merseyside during recent months as Ben Godfrey and Seamus Coleman have been preferred by Dyche at right-back.
To make matter worse, it was claimed the Toffees manager had slapped the former Rangers youth star while having lunch at a club training camp in Portugal earlier this month.
Although, speaking to the media ahead of Everton's trip to face Bournemouth on Saturday, Dyche provided his take on the incident - claiming there was nothing in it despite talk of his actions leaving the squad unimpressed.
READ MORE: Ex-Celtic kid named in NXGN top 50 players in the world
He said: “You know, never let the truth get in the way of a good story. So, there’s nothing in it really, I tapped him on the head like your older brother would and he didn’t get the joke, there's nothing more to it but of course, that wouldn’t have sold.
“So, everyone has to add layers and layers and layers to it but it’s really that simple."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here