Roberts completes thrill 'ride' to Premier League

Patrick Roberts has said he has loved the ride that has taken him from League One to the Premier League with Sunderland.

Roberts came off the bench in the play-off final and set up Eliezer Mayenda's equaliser as the Black Cats came from a goal down to beat Sheffield United to promotion.

Having arrived on Wearside in January 2022, the 28-year-old winger has now enjoyed two promotion wins at Wembley in four seasons.

"It's a great day and especially for me personally," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"It's been a good ride with this club and to get back to the Premier League, I'm very grateful. It's been a privilege."

Roberts says that he picked up a calf injury in the first leg of the play-off semi-final with Coventry City.

He battled through the second leg but then faced a race against time to get fit for the final, with head coach Regis Le Bris deciding to only use him as a substitute.

But with the game going against them, Roberts was sent on just before the hour-mark, going on to make a big impact.

And with Sunderland's success, he is one of four players along with Anthony Patterson, Luke O'Nien and Dennis Cirkin to have featured against the Blades and in the 2-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the League One play-off final three years ago.

"My objective when I came here was to bring this club back to where it belongs, where I think it belongs and the fans think it belongs," he said.

"That was the main objective. But the first one was to get out of League One, which was a tough old ask after four years.

"We did that and you just start believing from there.

"We had a bad season last year finishing 16th and this year we've finished fourth. We beat a really good team in Coventry, and then Sheffield United so it shows the character and resilience of this group."