Sean Dyche 'strikes row with Everton players' after playful slap backfires during Portugal training camp

Everton manager Sean Dyche reportedly unknowingly caused a small scene with his players in the middle of a restaurant this week.

The Toffees are currently enjoying a break from Premier League action at a warm-weather training ground in Portugal, with the team not in action until March 30.

He Everton The stars have kept fit with training exercises and practice games, as well as enjoying potlucks in a positive week for the Merseyside club.

But it seems one of his team dinners during his stay turned into minor chaos afterward. Dyche He playfully hit one of his players on the head.

According to the daily mailthe coach jokingly gave 22-year-old defenseman Nathan Patterson a clip in the ear.

However, it is claimed that he hit it harder than he probably intended, prompting a reaction from “several players” around the table.

Patterson was apparently unhappy and the reaction of some of the other stars meant the club captain James Tarkowskiwho also played with Dyche at Burnley, stepped in to help calm things down.

Dyche is then said to have apologized for his heavy-handedness, with Everton sources insisting it was no big fight and simply a “storm in a teacup”.

While Dyche's harmless but clumsy prank seemed to backfire, it didn't ruin the rest of the trip, as the team trained as normal on Thursday and Friday before flying home.

Everton insist it has been a “positive week” for the team a nightmare season On and off the field.

Dyche's men are currently on a winless run of 11 league games and sit 16th in the Premier League table after being docked six points – down from their initial punishment of ten after breaching winning rules and sustainability.

The club could also suffer a further points penalty before the end of the season after being accused of a second financial breach.

Everton took to their field for the last time on March 9. losing 2-0 to Manchester Unitedand will not play again until the Premier League clash against Bournemouth In two weeks.

This is because his confrontation on Merseyside with Liverpool was postponed due to the Reds' FA Cup quarter-final match against Man United this weekend, with the date of the derby still unknown.