Anthony Patterson: Does he have a future at Sunderland?
Anthony Patterson was one of those cast aside at Sunderland after they won promotion back to the Premier League.
While many Black Cats supporters are still on cloud nine after what has been an excellent campaign in the Premier League, plenty of appreciation has been reserved for the players who helped get the club back in the top flight.
Patterson was one of them, having generally impressed throughout the last campaign, while also making one crucial save in the play-off final, which was influential in Sunderland’s win over Sheffield United.
However, the arrival of Robin Roefs and then Melker Ellborg saw Patterson join Millwall on loan, with the question soon to emerge as to whether he has any way back at Sunderland.
How has Anthony Patterson fared at Millwall?
Throughout his time with Sunderland, Patterson was well-renowned for his excellent shot-stopping abilities, while perhaps lacking in other areas.
That has again been the case at Millwall, where he has kept three clean sheets in the seven Championship appearances he has made.
| Championship 25-26 | Patterson |
| Games | 7 |
| Goals conceded | 7 |
| Clean sheets | 3 |
| Shots saved | 17 |
| Goals prevented | -0.27 |
His save percentage of 70.8 per cent demonstrates that strength, while his 42.2 per cent pass accuracy showcases the weaknesses he has on the ball.
On top of that, Patterson was often criticised for his lack of control in the penalty area, and with 0.57 high claims per 90 this season, he places among the bottom 21 per cent of Championship goalkeepers for that metric.
Overall, it has been a solid loan for the 25-year-old at Millwall, but it remains unlikely to be enough for him to stake a claim for his place on Wearside.
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Sunderland’s next steps with Patterson examined
Providing he stays, Roefs will again be Sunderland’s number one next season, with Ellborg still likely to be second in line.
Given Patterson’s value and, perhaps most importantly, his homegrown status, it would make little sense for Sunderland to keep him on their books.
A permanent exit would represent pure profit for the Black Cats from a PSR perspective, which remains the most likely outcome this summer.
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