Sean Dyche breaks silence on what really happened during Nathan Patterson 'slap' incident

Sean Dyche has finally revealed what happened during Everton’s team dinner where a joke went wrong.

Everton travelled to Portugal prior to the international fixtures due to a break in first-team action as they look to get their season back on track.

The Toffees sit 16th in the Premier League table, six points ahead of Nottingham Forest, but could be hit with their second point deduction of the season as the Premier League wrap up their investigation into breaches of profitability rules.

During their trip to Portugal, Dyche was involved in a joke gone wrong with defender Nathan Patterson with The Daily Mail reporting the manager ‘slapped’ the youngster during a team dinner and senior players were forced to step in to resolve the matter.

The report added the issue was sorted out internally and all players trained at the camp before jetting back to Merseyside.

Conducting his pre-match duties before the game against Bournemouth, Dyche confirmed the incident was a joke missed by Patterson that has been blown out of proportion.

“You know, never let the truth get in the way of a good story," he said. "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.”

Patterson was in action for Scotland during the international period but England manager Gareth Southgate opted against using his teammate Jarrad Branthwaite in friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.

Dyche admitted he was surprised to not see the youngster get his first cap.

He said: “You know, I know Gareth well, I respect him. I’ve never tried to put any of my thoughts on him, he asked me about players and the form they’re in.

“I would say as a manager and someone who cares for the players, that I was surprised he didn’t get a few minutes. That being said, a fantastic experience. I know Gareth certainly treats them well… as a collective and a unit.

“I had a quick word with him (Branthwaite) today, but nothing heavy, and he’s back in the group.”