Patrick Roberts should be earing hundreds of thousands per WEEK and playing in the English Premier League.
That's the verdict of Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray, who has the former Celtic loanee at his disposal at the Stadium of Light, as he plots to take the Black Cats back to the riches of England's top flight. The club had been stuck in League One for a period but landed a spot in the second tier last season after winning the play-offs and are firmly in the mix to finish in the top six this season and contest for a chance at the 'richest game in world football'.
Roberts has had a handful of loans throughout his career including a successful stint at the Hoops. Some have not been as successful but he seems to finally be finding his feet. He netted the winner with a stunning solo goal last time out against Reading and has become a key player alongside former Rangers loan attacker Amad Diallo.
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Mowbray knows just how 'amazing' the 26-year-old is and believes he is BETTER than Sunderland and should be making the big bucks at the top level as that is the life style he deserves for his 'talent'. Speaking to Sunderland Nation, he said: "Hopefully the penny is dropping for Pat. He's an amazing footballer and I hope we can help him play in the Premier League. I think he’s starting to live the life of a footballer from what I can see.
"He's lost two-and-a-half kilos in the last few weeks. I'm just trying to make him live like a footballer. Patrick Roberts shouldn't be playing in League One or even, with total respect to this football club, he should be playing in the Premier League in my opinion.
"And so he has to live like it. It's down to him, I know I maximised my career, to get to where I got in football, I wasn't a superstar.
"I was just a centre-half who used to try and win headers, but I got the most out of myself by living the life - eating, sleeping, drinking. I haven't drank alcohol since the age of 18 because I wanted to be the best footballer I can be.
"I have these conversations with Pat. He should be earning hundreds of thousands a week playing in the Premier League and living the life that his talent deserves, and yet he was playing in League One for Sunderland."
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