Young goalkeeper Anthony Patterson has retained his place in the Sunderland side on merit, says boss Alex Neil. Academy graduate Patterson took over the gloves when Thorben Hoffmann took time out to undergo blood tests following illness last month.
On-loan Bayern Munich stopper Hoffmann sat out two games but is now fit again, however he has been unable to displace Patterson and has had to settle for a place on the bench for the last three matches. And in the meantime Patterson has impressed, keeping Sunderland in the game against Burton Albion a week ago which set the stage for the Black Cats to snatch a late point, while at Wigan on Saturday he made a terrific save from Callum Lang in the second half to help preserve a clean sheet as the Wearsiders reignited their play-off challenge with a 3-0 win.
Neil has been in charge for the last four games meaning he is yet to see Hoffmann in match action, and Patterson's performances make it unlikely the 21-year-old will be dropped any time soon. "Patterson is in the team because he deserves to be in the team," said Neil.
