Le Bris lays down a challenge to ousted goalkeeper Patterson

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.

- By MATTY HEWITT

Patterson, who has been an ever present since breaking into the team back in League One, 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 preseason 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.