Anthony Patterson's hopes of being involved in this summer's U21 European Championship have been given a major boost after the Sunderland man was called up for England's pre-tournament training camp. Academy graduate Patterson turned 23 earlier this month but still qualifies for this summer's finals under the rules because he was born after the January 1, 2000, cut-off date.
Patterson will link up with the Young Lions provisional squad for the camp which takes place from June 7-10, and is one of four goalkeepers invited to train with the others being Manchester City's James Trafford (who has spent the season on loan at Bolton Wanderers), Brighton's Carl Rushworth (who has spent the season on loan at Lincoln City), and West Bromwich Albion's Josh Griffiths. U21 coach Lee Carsley will name his final squad on June 14 for the tournament which is being staged in Romania and Georgia and which gets under way on June 21.
England have been drawn in Group C for the initial stage of the tournament along with Germany, Israel, and the Czech Republic. Patterson took over as Sunderland's first-choice goalkeeper midway through last season when the club's two senior goalkeepers were struck down by Covid, and he helped the club achieve promotion from League One via the play-offs.
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This season he has enjoyed an excellent campaign in the Championship as the Black Cats finished sixth and reached the play-offs before bowing out in the semi-finals. Patterson played every minute of every league game, and of both legs of the play-off semi-final.
His form was recognised by Carsley in March when he was called up to the U21 squad for friendlies against France U21 at Leicester's King Power Stadium, and Croatia U21 at Fulham's Craven Cottage, although he did not play in either game. Earlier this month Patterson spoke to ChronicleLive about his experience with the U21s and his hopes of being involved in the tournament this summer.
"It was a great experience to be part of the set-up, working with the best U21 players in the country," he said. "I didn't get any gametime but I was still able to train with them and to be in that kind of environment was a great experience.
"I just about still qualify for the age limit for the U21 Euros this summer and it would be an amazing experience to be involved in that, if it happens. It'd ruin my holidays, but I don't mind that! I just have to perform as best I can in whatever games we have left and wait and see if I'm called up."
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