Celtic favourite Patrick Roberts believes his experience of thriving in front of 60,000 supporters has him primed to become a Sunderland asset.
The 25-year-old winger was a smash-hit in Glasgow's east end during his wildly successful two-and-a-half year loan spell from Manchester City.
Roberts has praised Black Cats boss Alex Neil for helping him get back to basics as Sunderland eye a late promotion charge in the final weeks of the season.
And he is backing his experience of using bumper crowds, like he did at Celtic, to unlock his potential as he aims to make the difference for a side who occupy the last League One playoff place.
Speaking to the Sunderland Echo, he said: “It’s just something you have to get your head around and get used to, it’s not a bad thing.
"You want the fans there and want them on your side.
"My best football came when I was playing in front of 60,000 fans in Scotland. I come here and there are 30,000 at the Stadium of Light and it’s the same kind of feeling, just obviously a different league.
“There is the same motivation, same ambition, same expectation from the whole club down to us players and we want to get the job done.
“The support has been amazing and we hope that continues, and we’ll do our best on the pitch as usual.”
Roberts' struggles on loan at Troyes, Derby and Middlesbrough have many doubting whether he will ever be able to rediscover his best form.
But the player himself believes he has more to offer now than when he was turning heads at Celtic under Brendan Rodgers' tutelage.
He added: “I’d say I’m probably even better. Obviously I’m older now, when I was younger I was maybe a bit sharper.
“With the run I’ve had in the team at the moment I’m just getting to my best football and I can only get better.
“Hopefully I’ll have time to show this club and these fans what I can do and help them reach the goal which is obviously promotion.”
And he was quick to heap praise on former Norwich and Preston boss Neil who is keeping it simple in his attempts to get Roberts flying.
He said: "When I came in first off I kind of knew I hadn’t been playing a lot of football, as much as I was eager to play.
“It was about building that up and getting to a place where I was physically comfortable.
“The manager spoke to me all the time and knew that, and I knew that, so it was just about working hard every day in training and waiting for my chance.
“Credit to the manager, he’s been great since he came in and has been very good tactically, mentally, and he gets you in the right place.
“He didn’t have to say much to me, he just wants me to go out there and do what I do best and that’s all I can try and do to help him and the team as best I can.”
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