Patterson back with Notts for the season
SUNDERLAND goalkeeper Anthony Patterson has rejoined Notts County on loan for the rest of this season.
The 21-year-old had a spell with the Magpies earlier in the campaign, making 16 appearances after being drafted in as cover for the injured Sam Slocombe.
Patterson is now back at Meadow Lane and eligible to face Wrexham at Meadow Lane tomorrow (3pm).
The National League game was still on, despite Covid-19 concerns, when the Post went to press last night.
“Everyone could see Anthony’s quality in the short time he spent with us,” said head coach Ian Burchnall.
“Having him back is a huge boost as it means we now have two excellent senior goalkeepers competing for their place in the team.
“At a time when Covid could strike anyone at any time and with a busy second half of the season approaching, it’s crucial we have strength in depth in all areas and Patto’s return certainly gives us that in the goalkeeping department.
“As mentioned at the time of his recall, we have maintained close dialogue with Sunderland and we’d like to say a big thank you to them for trusting us with Patto’s continued development.
It’s great that they appreciate the progress he made while working with us and we look forward to bringing him on even further in the months ahead.
“This may also give us the chance to get Tiernan Brooks out on loan following his beneficial spell at Worksop earlier this season. Senior game time is very important for Tiernan at this stage of his development and it will be good to get him back out there.” Patterson will wear the number 25 shirt during his second stint at Notts. Meanwhile, Burchnall is relishing the prospect of a “great test” against a Wrexham side he believes are the strongest Notts have faced this season.
Notts are ninth, though only five points behind leaders Chesterfield, while Wrexham are up to third, a point off the top spot, but have played two games more than Burchnall’s men. The sides drew 1-1 at The Racecourse in August. “I have to say, of all the teams we’ve played, I probably felt they were the strongest outfit we’ve faced so far,” said Burchnall. “They’ve got very good players, they’ve assembled a really strong squad and it’s not a surprise at all to me that they’ve worked their way up the league to where they are. “They are without doubt going to be one of the teams vying for the top spot – and it’s a great test for us.
“I think they are an excellent team but I think we’ve been really strong at home and it’s a game that, having missed so much football now, we’re really, really looking forward to.”
On the race for promotion, Burchnall added: “It’s a really exciting league – you can see that just from top to ninth, there’s only five points and a lot of good teams up there, a lot that are probably going to keep trying to improve.
“I think it’s going to be as tight as it has ever been. We have to just keep improving, keep in there.
“If we can do well in the games in hand, we are going to be right up there amongst it.
“It’s set up for a fascinating second half of the season.”
Earlier this week, Burchnall revealed there had been positive Covid cases within his squad and admitted it was a big concern but he stressed that the club would do all they could to ensure the game goes ahead as planned.
Asked if it would be better to call the game off, he said: “What does it say to the players who are available if we call it off? What message am I giving them?
“I believe we have a squad strong enough to compete in any moment in any game, if we get everything right.
“It’s really important that we do that. I trust the players.
“We’ve got a really good squad, so if we do miss some then I believe the strength we have in depth is going to shine through.
“That’s going to be important for us, not just for this game but for the rest of the season.
“I think that’s a good message to send out. I don’t think it’s a risk in any way.”
Wrexham won 2-0 away to Altrincham on December 28 and are looking for more success on the road.
Boss Phil Parkinson told The Leader newspaper: “We are looking forward to it.
“We have just got to make sure that we get everybody ready, that we have plenty of players to pick from and we pick the right team to go and give a good account of ourselves at Meadow Lane.
“They (Notts County) are a big club and a team fancied to be up there.
“Going back to that early game in the season, I thought we were excellent and if we can reproduce a performance like that, we will give ourselves a great chance.”
At a time when Covid could strike at any time, it’s crucial we have strength in depth in all areas.
Ian Burchnall