Patrick Roberts believes his 'positivity' is paying off after admitting the first month of the season proved tough when he found himself on the fringes at Sunderland. Roberts did not start a league game until September, with his appearances limited to a handful of run-outs as a substitute.
When new boss Tony Mowbray has said he found it difficult to understand how a talent such as Roberts found himself on the outside looking in. But all that changed when an injury to top scorer Ross Stewart in the warm-up ahead of the Black Cats' game at Middlesbrough meant the ex-Manchester City forward was promoted from the bench minutes before kick-off.
He retained his place in the starting XI for the next two games, and scored twice in the 3-0 win at Reading and then contributed the assist for Jewison Bennette's late equaliser which earned a point at Watford heading into the international break. Roberts, who signed a new two-year contract in the summer after helping the club win promotion last term after joining on a short-term deal in January, said: "It's a team sport and I've come here and wanted to be here.
