Tony Mowbray has called for Patrick Roberts to add consistency to his game following on from a brace against Reading last week. The Black Cats attacking midfielder has found consistent game time hard to come by since returning to Wearside this summer, but the new head coach has been delighted by what he's seen in training.
The Sunderland boss has revealed he had talks with former Manchester City player Tosin Adarabioyo, who was full of praise for Roberts, leaving Mowbray excited to work with him. A brace against Reading, at a time when the Wearsiders had no recognised strikers on the pitch, was a key moment for Roberts.
The playmaker stood up when the Black Cats needed a moment of inspiration and he delivered. Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Mowbray said: "Patrick Roberts, the ball stuck to his foot in training, it's amazing to watch. I'm delighted for him that in our hour of need, with the strikers disappearing in front of our eyes, that he can step up and do what he can do.
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"Listen he needs to get goals. I said to Patrick when I first came, I said 'How are you not in the starting 11 of this football club?' He sort of laughed. It wasn't a laugh but more of a recognition that he needs to push on, he needs to start showing everybody.
"I had a few calls from people who started at [Manchester] City with Patrick and they told me he was magic and I was lucky to have him. I've been interested to work with him and they're not far way. But, he has to add an end product.
"It's no good being a lovely footballer with no shots, no goals, no assists and tonight [against Reading] he came to the party and lets hope that's a consistent theme moving forward. I'm sure it will be."
Roberts himself believes the arrival of Mowbray will suit Sunderland's technical, forward thinking players, with a respectable points return from his brief spell in charge. When asked if his patience had paid off with a brace against the Royals, Roberts told Sky Sports: "Yeah I think so. I've always kind of been ready since pre-season.
"The change in manager, he's come in, he's fresh at the club and he wants us to play football.
"Attacking football in the right areas. He wants us to go out and attack, especially me and Jack [Clarke] it's what we need on the flanks, where we like to play and get at defenders. Just produce, which he also said. Hopefully there's more to come in the rest of the season."
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