Tony Mowbray on Anthony Patterson: 'It's amazing to think of what he's going to be'

Sunderland boss expecting 'big future' for goalkeeper after England call-up.

Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson has ‘richly deserved’ his international recognition, according to Black Cats head coach Tony Mowbray.

Patterson earned his first call-up to the England under-21s for the home friendlies against France and Croatia.

The Sunderland stopper is one of four goalkeepers in the squad alongside West Bromwich Albion's Josh Griffiths, Brighton's Carl Rushworth who is currently on loan at Lincoln City, and Manchester City's James Trafford, who is currently on loan at Bolton, but he is well-positioned to make himself the number one choice.

Asked about Patterson’s call-up, Mowbray said: "It's richly deserved, I think.

"As I've said week in, week out the steadiness and composure he brings, the fact he makes big saves that help you win football matches. I'm delighted for him.

"It will be great for him to go into a different working environment with other goalkeepers and different coaches for England and do the work and see what it's like in that environment.

"Hopefully he gets some game time. I'm not sure if he's going to play or going for the experience but it's great that he's been called up. It's great for the club and obviously great for him.

“Hopefully he enjoys it. It's a chance to go and play in some Premier League stadiums, it will be a great experience for him."

Patterson has certainly established himself at Sunderland since August, so much so that it is easy to forget that he is still in his first full season as a number one.

Mowbray has certainly been impressed, and he believes Patterson is a player of ‘amazing’ potential.

"He's obviously played in some pretty big football matches for the club and has done exceptionally well and continues to do exceptionally well,” he said.

"That's down to the personality really, the traits he brings, the calmness. Some goalies are a box of frogs always shouting about, jumping, screaming at everyone. And then you have a band of goalies who are super calm and cool and know how to do their job. Then you get brilliant goalies who are both.

"Anthony is just a big steady guy who is really good at keeping the ball out of his net and dealing with crosses. He has growth areas as you'd expect of a young goalkeeper, his distribution at times needs to be worked on and is getting worked on.

"But he doesn't have many, what I would call faults. It's amazing to think of what he's going to be like when he's 30 and has still got six to eight years still to play when he's so young now and so good at what he does. He obviously has a big future."

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