Tony Mowbray favourite set for Sunderland deadline day exit to Birmingham City
Sunderland could let a host of players leave the North East club before the transfer window closes.
Nazariy Rusyn may spearhead the Stadium of Light departures, having been linked with a season-long loan move to Poland.
However, he is unlikely to be the only one, as Regis Le Bris has a bloated squad on his hands at Sunderland.
Indeed, a favourite of former Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray is set to depart the Wearsiders after the latest developments.
Patrick Roberts set to join Birmingham City on loan from Sunderland
Roberts made his first start of the season for Sunderland in their Carabao Cup defeat to Huddersfield Town.
However, Roberts did not impress against Huddersfield, and now it appears he is allowed to find a new challenge.
That is because the right-winger is set to join Championship club Birmingham City on loan, according to Sky Sports on 1 September.
The 28-year-old joined the North East club when they were stranded in League One and played a pivotal role in their rise up the divisions.
Indeed, Roberts bagged an assist in the Championship play-off final after teeing up Eliezer Mayenda for their opening goal.
Last season, the former Man City man was a regular under Le Bris, but events this summer have shown that there is no place for sentiment on Wearside.
Read more: Jermain Defoe tells Patrick Roberts what he told everyone about him at Sunderland
Why was Patrick Roberts a favourite under Tony Mowbray?
Mowbray had managed Roberts before his time at Sunderland when he was manager at Middlesbrough.
Indeed, when he arrived on Wearside, he questioned why the winger was unable to secure a regular place in the starting XI.
Under Mowbray, Roberts rediscovered his best form and forged a formidable partnership with Amad Diallo.
“I think Patrick is a unique talent – I know there are aspects of his game that need to improve that we work on every day and I talk to him a lot about those, but he is just such a dangerous footballer to be up against,” Mowbray said via Chronicle Live in 2023.
“If you’re an opposition manager, you worry about Patrick Roberts in my opinion… He is probably top in the league at second assists where he dribbles past, somebody sticks to Jack [Clarke] and then Jack bends it in the far corner.
- Roberts joined Sunderland on a short-term deal before the Wearsiders handed him a long-term contract
- He has made more appearances for the Black Cats than for any other club
- The winger has notched 27 goal contributions on Wearside.
“I find Patrick almost a unique type of footballer who can slow you down, speed up, jink inside, chop back on the outside, go past you, get his body underneath your arm so you can’t touch him … he’s just a very, very, clever footballer who is a really important aspect of our game.”
While Mowbray was right about the winger, he is now up against top players, meaning opportunities are bound to be sparse.
At Birmingham, Roberts should thrive again, given that they should be challenging for promotion.
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