Anthony Patterson has received his first England U21 call-up with his outstanding form for Sunderland recognised by the Young Lions. Academy graduate Patterson has been included in Lee Carsley's 26-man squad for the friendlies against France U21 at Leicester's King Power Stadium on Saturday, March 25, and Croatia U21 at Fulham's Craven Cottage on Tuesday, March 28.
He is one of four goalkeepers in the squad, along with West Bromwich Albion's Josh Griffiths, Brighton's Carl Rushworth who is currently on loan at Lincoln City, and Manchester City's James Trafford, who is currently on loan at Bolton. Patterson has been in excellent form since being recalled from a loan spell at Notts County in January 2022 as the club battled a Covid outbreak which affected Sunderland's two senior goalkeepers, on-loan Bayern Munich man Thorben Hoffman and Lee Burge.
He held onto the number one shirt for the remainder of the season, helping Sunderland win promotion from League One via the play-offs. And he has been the undisputed number one this term, playing every one of the club's 37 Championship games so far.
