GRAEME MURTY has witnessed Nathan Patterson's ascent first-hand at Rangers, and few are better placed to assess the 20-year-old's ability and potential.

Murty, who twice served as interim first-team manager at Ibrox but has been working primarily in a youth development role, has overseen the defender's progression at the Premiership champions.

A move to Everton for a club-record fee received by Rangers is believed to be imminent after the Scotland internationalist travelled to Liverpool for a medical.

And Murty reckons it's no suprise that a Premier League club has come calling for Patterson's signature.

"Look at Nathan’s profile, he fits into any scheme you want to play and has done," Murty told the Daily Record. "The guy can play full-back and wing-back.

"He’s so adaptable and game intelligent that he could pick up core principles for any system really well.

"So I’m not surprised that there was Premier League interest in him. He’s very clever, he’s funny, he can be intense.

"But what always impressed me was that nothing seems to faze him - whatever the level.

"He goes in with that real sense of confidence, self-efficacy. Whatever situation, he can handle. He understands and trusts his own game so well.

"Nathan has always had a strong sense of self, an idea of what he’s good at. He doesn’t try to do anything he’s not comfortable with."