Patrick Roberts Reveals Love for Sunderland, Sets Sights on Promotion

Patrick Roberts has reiterated his ‘love’ for Sunderland as he predicted a successful season under new boss Regis Le Bris. Roberts was one of a number of players who underperformed for Sunderland last season, although he was battling injury for much of the second half of the season which saw a total collapse into lower mid-table. He has looked much more like his old self this season, though, registering a goal and assists during a packed preseason schedule. It all bodes well for the start of the Championship season, and Roberts himself admits he can’t wait to get started.

“I love it here,” Roberts told the Sunderland Echo. “I love stepping out on the pitch in red and white. Especially getting back to the Stadium of Light when that comes round, it's a beautiful place when it's rocking and everyone is together. We've had so many away games this preseason and I think everyone is excited to get back there. I feel refreshed, good within myself. I've loved my two and a half years here and I think there's a lot more to come.”

“Pre-season is always very different to the actual season but it's always nice to chip in and build that confidence. The main thing is staying fit, I think all the lads would say the same. I've always felt that when I've had a good pre season that I can then really kick on. I've felt good all through the summer, so I'm looking forward to getting started.

“I feel really good. I've loved my time at this club and it's only getting better. You always have different objectives at the start of any season, both personal and for the team - I think like most of the fans and the staff, the end goal is to get promoted and that's what we want to work towards.

“It's a lot of hard work but if you've got a good game plan and good morale within the squad you can achieve anything. It's always a clean slate at the start of a season and we're looking forward to it.”

Roberts was one of a number of players who struggled with injury last summer, and a newborn baby in the summer hit his preparation too. This season, though, according to Roberts, will be very different on that front.

“I think it's why that pre-season base is so important,” he said. “It's hard when, you probably saw it with lads like Dennis [Cirkin] and Aji [Alese] last season, you get injured and when you come back you're trying to get fit again, you get these little niggles. It happened with me a couple of times and it's something that I've been through a few times in my career, you get one or two little injuries and they just carry on. When you can have that big pre-season block, it helps your body deal with it as you go through the season.

“We need a full squad and me personally I'm feeling good, better than I did twelve months ago I think. I feel in a good place and I think most of the lads are the same, to be fair.

“We know it's going to be a tough league as it is every year, I think there's a lot of experience now within the group in terms of playing games. A lot of lads now going into their second season which is going to be big, I know from experience that early on you can play a lot of games and feel like you've burnt out a bit - but they've been through that now and you'll see that new lease of life. We can't wait to get going.”

A Fresh Start and a New Perspective

A frustrating stop-start season has been followed by a positive and encouraging summer for Patrick Roberts. Now, the Sunderland star is determined to make this campaign a memorable one on Wearside. And the former Manchester City winger believes his very best is still to come in a red and white shirt. That will excite the Sunderland fans, who saw Roberts torment Championship defenders as he played a starring role in the 2022/23 campaign. But injury and dugout disruptions prevented the 27-year-old from kicking on last term. But he believes this year will be different.

Roberts became a dad for the first time at the back end of last season. And a new arrival at the Academy of Light in Regis Le Bris helped to draw a line under what had been a frustrating period on the pitch for all associated with Sunderland. With a full summer under his belt, Roberts now feels well equipped for the campaign and challenges ahead.

He says: "I've always felt that when I've had a good pre season that I can then really kick on. I've felt good all through the summer, so I'm looking forward to getting started.

"I feel really good. I've loved my time at this club and it's only getting better. You always have different objectives at the start of any season, both personal and for the team - I think like most of the fans and the staff, the end goal is to get promoted and that's what we want to work towards.

"It's a lot of hard work but if you've got a good game plan and good morale within the squad you can achieve anything. It's always a clean slate at the start of a season and we're looking forward to it."

Experience and a New Lease of Life

Sunderland's squad might be young but the core has now been together for a couple of years, which Roberts believes will stand the Black Cats in good stead. He said: "We know it's going to be a tough league as it is every year, I think there's a lot of experience now within the group in terms of playing games. A lot of lads are now going into their second season which is going to be big, I know from experience that early on you can play a lot of games and feel like you've burnt out a bit - but they've been through that now and you'll see that new lease of life."

And for Roberts, there's new perspective. "I had a newborn at the end of the last season, so you start to see things a little bit differently," he said. "I've been around a long time now, I think it's my 11th season. You see everything really, managers coming and going, staff coming and going, players... you just want that belief at the start of the season and I think we've got that at the moment with the new head coach. It's been a good pre season, we've got good ideas which we've been putting in place and it's just about going and executing it. That's all you can do as a player.

"I'm looking forward to it. I love it here, I love stepping out on the pitch in red and white. Especially getting back to the Stadium of Light when that comes round, it's a beautiful place when it's rocking and everyone is together. We've had so many away games this pre season and I think everyone is excited to get back there. I feel refreshed, good within myself. I've loved my two and a half years here and I think there's a lot more to come."