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 .