The Black Cats academy goalkeeper has been impressive coming through the Stadium of Light ranks.
Sunderland manager Jack Ross has earmarked academy goalkeeper Anthony Patterson for success after confirming that the 19-year-old is expected to feature around the first team more prominently in 2019-20, according to Chronicle Live.
The Black Cats youngster was named as a substitute for the League One match at Walsall in November 2018 following an injury to back-up goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter, as well as against Barnsley in the successive game, and has also made the bench in a number of EFL Trophy matches (Transfermarkt).
Patterson has been in the Sunderland academy for a number of years, going on to earn a scholarship, and became a star performer for the Under-16s before rising through the ranks with the Under-18s and Under-23s (official club website).
With Sunderland having released both Ruiter and Max Stryjek this summer, Patterson could potentially become the club’s third-choice custodian behind Jon McLaughlin and new arrival Lee Burge.
“Again, very much like Conor (McLaughlin), goalkeeper was a priority position for us and one we had to fill very quickly because we only have Jon as a senior keeper on the books,” Ross is quoted by Chronicle Live as saying when talking about Burge’s arrival.
“I want to push Anthony Patterson more this year also, who is part of the U23s and I think he has a great opportunity to have a really good career in the game and will be involved on a first team basis with us regularly.”
Patterson, who is contracted to the Stadium of Light outfit until the summer of 2020, was awarded the Special Recognition accolade at the club’s Academy Awards ceremony in May 2016.
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