Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris has been speaking ahead of the Premier League curtain raiser against West Ham United
Anthony Patterson is no longer Sunderland's number one goalkeeper heading into the Premier League campaign.
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris expects Anthony Patterson to accept the challenge he now has ahead of him after the club signed Robin Roefs over the summer transfer window. The Black Cats boss made it clear that the Dutch goalkeeper was his number one ahead of the upcoming campaign, after arriving from NEC Nijmegen last month.
Patterson, who has been an ever present since breaking into the team back in League One has played a key role in the club's ascent to the Premier League, pulling off a number of big saves in the Championship Play-Off Final win over Sheffield United.
However, the 25-year-old has played limited minutes in pre-season due to a knee injury, returning to the fold against Real Vallecano in the final warm-up game before the new campaign.
Like other key areas in the squad, Le Bris wanted to bring in a new shot stopper to challenge Patterson and hopes the academy graduate will rise to the challenge.
"Yeah, it's clear, we start with Robin. It's still ongoing, because we recruited a new goalkeeper to challenge this position," Le Bris said. "I think that was really important.
"At the same time, it's like for every player, you have to accept the challenge. If you take it positively you are in the right mood, so it's been really easy with all the players."
Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs
Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs(Image: PA)
When asked how Patterson had responded to Roefs coming through the door, Le Bris said: "We've just had a short period of time to digest the new set-up, because the transfer window is unpredictable. We would like as a coach to have our squad ready from scratch but it's never the case.
"The balance of the competition, maybe it was a bit tough for the midfielders to start and for the wingers and strikers at the beginning it was easier. Now it's getting harder. And that was the case for the goalkeeper.
"I think every player in the squad knows now it's important to have the best team as possible to be competitive in the league."
The Black Cats have signed 11 new players ahead of the new season looking to balance a mixture of experience, youth and blending both with last season's crop of players. The club are set to unveil a new look leadership group in the coming days, who will play a key role in the dressing room.
"We have to wait a bit to find the right balance because it's often connected with game time," Le Bris revealed. "If you're not fully involved with the squad it's a bit more difficult to help the leadership group. We'll find the right balance at the end of the window."
Sunderland's Premier League collection
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