PATRICK ROBERTS SUNDERLAND WINGER

Mercurial magician can still do more

- Chris Dunlavy

LOOK up the word mercurial in the dictionary and you will probably find a picture of Sunderland’s Patrick Roberts.

On a good day, the diminutive 27-year-old is a technician of majestic quality - a throwback to the days when wingers existed purely to thrill supporters, embarrass full-backs and score the odd wonder goal.

On a bad one, he is a player of fist-chewing frustration who’ll blast ambitious shots into the stand, weave his way into traffic and spurn crossing opportunities for one last trick.

Even Tony Mowbray - as indulgent a manager as you could meet - frequently dropped Roberts to the bench, despite claiming that the former Manchester City man was the best footballer in the Championship.

“I’m Patrick’s biggest fan,” explained the former Middlesbrough and Celtic manager, who guided Sunderland to the 2022-23 play-off semi-finals during an 18-month spell in charge.

“Because I like talent, I like people who can manipulate the ball, the guys who can beat a man and pick a pass and open things up in tight games. He can bring an X-factor that turns those really tight games into wins, because he can dribble his way out of a telephone box.