Patrick Roberts is looking forward to returning to Fulham with Sunderland in the FA Cup - almost eight years after he lined up for the Cottagers against the Black Cats in the same competition. Sunderland head to Craven Cottage tomorrow to take on Marco Silva's Premier League side in the fourth round of the cup, having overcome League One Shrewsbury Town earlier this month to reach this stage.
But back in February 2015, Sunderland were the top flight side taking on Championship Fulham in South West London in the fourth round. Sunderland won 3-1 that day, and Roberts came on as a late substitute for Fulham - the club where he began his career - just a couple of days shy of his 18th birthday.
Roberts joined Manchester City at the end of that season and his career has since included loan stays at Celtic, Girona, Norwich City, Middlesbrough, Derby County, and Troyes, before he arrived at Sunderland 12 months ago. He has been back to Craven Cottage only once since leaving in the summer of 2015, losing 1-0 there in the Championship with Boro in January 2020, and this weekend's game will be a welcome return to the club that gave him his big break.
