Patrick Roberts looking forward to rare pre-season with Sunderland after 'tough few years'

After playing a starring role in the club’s run to promotion to the Championship last season, Roberts has extended his stay on Wearside after 17 appearances and two goals, including scoring the crucial match winner that sent them to Wembley in the play-off semi finals.

Roberts broke onto the scene years ago coming through the ranks at Fulham before making a high profile switch to Premier League champions Manchester City. After a fruitful loan spell with Celtic winning a number of trophies, his career stagnated through a series of loans at Girona, Norwich City, Middlesbrough, Derby County and Troyes.

Due to the loan spells at various clubs and little chance of breaking into the first-team at Manchester City, Roberts has been without a pre-season but has been back in training with the Black Cats since last week as they prepare for the upcoming Championship season.

“Pre-season is important” said Roberts. “I’ve not had that many over the past few years being on loan. You don’t get a full pre-season and the manager (Alex Neil) has spoken to me about that and making that important for me.

“Coming in on the first day was just as important for me as everyone else. It’s something we have got to get through, it’s part and parcel of football. You are going to have many more pre-seasons so you have just got to enjoy it, take what you can from it and set a good stamp for the rest of the season.”

Sunderland will kick off their season in just over a month’s time when they host Coventry City at the Stadium of Light on Sunday July 31st for a lunchtime kick-off.

Patrick Roberts celebrates Sunderland's promotion to the Championship.

After Roberts made the initial switch to Sunderland on a six month contract back in January, the winger spoke about his desire to settle into a team and an area where he felt he could strive to move his career along after spending years on the move from club to club.

“It (promotion) meant a lot" Roberts continued: "Like I said, it’s been a tough few years when you have been in and around it. You’re not really part of most clubs and you come here and there is a real ambition to go in the right direction.

“To be involved in that, especially in the last three games the important ones, was huge. I thought I was building on that and we got the job done. That’s important for the town. We build on that, like I said. We go for more, we don’t just stop here.”

“I’ve been like that my whole life” he added. “I just want to get given a chance and a place to prove myself.

“You only get better by playing games and being in a team where you can strive. That’s what I’ve got hear under a manager, team-mates and fans who will cheer you on every game. I can only improve and get better. Improve on last season. I’m fully capable and I am looking forward to seeing what I can do."

Roberts follows in the footsteps of versatile winger Lynden Gooch who also put pen-to-paper on a fresh two-year contract. Defender Bailey Wright has been offered a new deal and is yet to sign. However, the 29-year-old is having extended time off due to being on international duty with Australia after the season came to an end.

After the 25-year-old extended his stay at the Stadium of Light, manager Alex Neil said: “I’ve always liked Patrick as a player and I’ve tried to sign him on a couple of occasions for different clubs.

“From working with him during my time here, he is exactly what I anticipated. he has real quality, can make the difference in big games and he has an excellent work ethic and attitude. He will be a really important player for us once again next season.”

Sunderland are due to head out for a pre-season training camp in Portugal next week as they step up their preparations for the forthcoming season. Meanwhille, Alex Neil has hinted that the club are in for a busy transfer window with the majority of his time currently being spent on recruitment.