Sunderland wingers Patrick Roberts and Romaine Mundle celebrate winning promotion to the Premier League (Image: Ian Horrocks)
Sunderland wingers Patrick Roberts and Romaine Mundle celebrate winning promotion to the Premier League (Image: Ian Horrocks)
PATRICK Roberts played through the agony of a torn calf to help fire Sunderland to the Premier League.
Such was the discomfort the winger found himself in, he was only able to train once in the build-up to Saturday's Championship play-off final.
But after Sunderland saved his career three years ago, there was no way Roberts was going to not try and play through the pain at Wembley.
And after starring as a substitute and inspiring the Black Cats to a thrilling come from behind victory over Sheffield United, Roberts said: "I just wanted to repay the club and help out as much as I can.
"I knew I probably wasn't fit enough to start, but it was a case of just doing anything I could to impact off the bench today for this club.
"I tore my calf on Tuesday and hadn't trained since. I tried to train once on Friday but it wasn’t great. I just had to suck it up.
"The manager asked me how much I could do and then when it was 1-0 he just kind of gambled."
RECOMMENDED READING:
Enzo Le Fee to kickstart Sunderland recruitment drive as transfer targets lined up
How Le Bris dealt with delicate situation & ended pain for Sunderland team that cares
Even Chris Wilder makes Sunderland 'fairy tale' admission - despite one Wembley moan
Sunderland took something of a gamble on Roberts in 2022. Despite being supremely talented, the winger had found himself at something of a crossroads in his career after a string of failed loan moves.
It's turned out to be a masterstroke of a signing, with the former Manchester City youngster closing in on 150 appearances in red and white and having now helped the Black Cats win two promotions.
"I came to a great club," he said.
"I was grateful enough to them for obviously taking me, giving me a platform and giving me more contracts. They didn't have to do, but they did.
"It's been an absolute delight. I said years ago when I came here, the goal was to get them back to the Premier League.
"When I came here it was obviously a huge club. Everyone kept saying, how are they in League One? But you're in League One for a reason.
"The task was to get out of it. We did get out of it and then it was just trying to build on that as a good Championship club and see where you can take it.
"This year with the new manager, we brought in some players, especially in January, and you could see the ambition of the owner and director and obviously of us as players.
"We said at the start, the manager asked us what we want to get out of this season and it was promotion - whatever way.
"We had to grind throughout the season and lost five on the bounce and we turned it around with the win at Coventry and then here showing the resilience to get over the line.
"It's been the story of our season. When it matters, we've turned up and it's great to play with a top group of lads that are young and a lot are going to do great things.
"For me, it's been some journey from League One to the Premier League. I don’t take it for granted. It's been a great ride.
"Going up through the play-offs was always going to be tough. I think Coventry was a really tough game. I played with it with calf injuries in both games, but I didn't really care about that.
"I just thought that if it's going to be the last game of the season then you've got to do what you can. Then, getting here, I just wanted to make sure I was involved. I just wanted to come on and make an impact."
And now Roberts wants to make an impact in the Premier League, six years on from the last of his six top flight appearances.
"I've never really had the chance," he said.
"I went to Celtic and that was a different experience and then I went abroad and I’ve been in the Championship for a while now after coming here in League One.
"I'm only 28 so I've got a fair few years ahead of me. I feel really good. It's the best year I've had probably in a while in terms of physicality and mentally.
"I’m just a dad as well. My little boy is only one so he wasn’t allowed to come but I’ve been sent a few pictures of him in his kit.
"Hopefully he'll be able to come to games next season. That'd be an amazing moment for me and him, hopefully to take him out at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League."