Patrick Roberts is thriving under Tony Mowbray at Sunderland - and says the head coach has been like a 'breath of fresh air' since taking the reins back in August. Former Manchester City man Roberts helped the Black Cats win promotion from League One last season but at the start of the current campaign found himself on the fringes, and did not start a game in the Championship under then-boss Alex Neil.
But all that changed once Mowbray took over at the end of August, with Roberts drafted into the starting XI for the new head coach's second game in charge and retaining his place virtually ever since. Mowbray has himself wondered aloud why Roberts was not in the side in the early weeks of the season and frequently labelled him 'the best player in the division'.
And, for his part, Roberts has responded to Mowbray's holistic approach to man-management, which has helped him produce his best form. "I've seen how Tony manages his teams and when he came in he had a chat with me - I wasn't really in the squad, I didn't really play many times before he came in, and he sat down and said 'I don't know how you're not playing'," said Roberts, who took part in Sunderland's open training session at the Stadium of Light yesterday which was watched by more than 3,000 fans.
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"From then, he said he couldn't change it immediately but he said that as time went on I would get my opportunity and I had to take it. I've always had faith in him since he came in to guide me and help my career and he has done that.
"He's a great man manager to have off the pitch as well as on the pitch, his door is always open and you can talk to him about anything. It's something I need from a manager and I can feed off.
"It's been a pleasure and a joy since he came in, it's been great. He's been a breath of fresh air, I think, for me personally and the rest of the lads have enjoyed it too, and we can go out onto the pitch with no fear and just express ourselves."
And of that 'best player in the division' tag, he smiled: "The gaffer is a man with many words and he has praise for everyone I think! He's just one of those managers he gets the best out of players, knows how to motivate them and get them going.
"I've enjoyed working with him and he's been great with me and great for me, and is a great man to have in charge."
At 59, Mowbray played almost his entire career in the 1980s and 1990s when managers were largely authority figures who often ruled the dressing room through fear. But in modern-day football, managers and head coaches need to have a more relaxed approach - particularly when dealing with young players - and Roberts says Sunderland are seeing the benefit of that.
He said: "I think you need to be like that now. The club has signed so many young players, I am one of the oldest - at 26, that's crazy to say!
"It's in the back of your mind that he is working with young players and knows how to get the best out of young players. It's a different mentality and you need someone to get the best out of them.
"That's what he has done, it's what he has done at other clubs and now he is doing it here as well."
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