Tony Mowbray is delighted 'unique talent' Patrick Roberts has committed his future to Sunderland - and is confident his skills will soon translate into goals and assists. Former Manchester City wideman Roberts was in the final 12 months of his deal but signed a new three-year contract last week, keeping him on Wearside until 2026 with the club also holding an option to extend his stay for a further year.

Mowbray is a huge admirer of the 26-year-old and has repeatedly heaped praise on Roberts, particularly last season when he was a key figure in the Sunderland side which reached the Championship play-offs, contributing five goals and seven assists. With a third of the current campaign gone, Roberts has yet to find the net and has provided just one assist, but Mowbray still regards him as an integral component in his side's attacking style and says the club's coaching staff are working on improving his end product.

"It's good to get that [new contract] over the line," said Mowbray. "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.

"If you're an opposition manager, you worry about Patrick Roberts in my opinion. Yes, the data and the stats are there and [this season] he hasn't scored goals, he hasn't really assisted, but 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.

"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. I'm delighted he has signed, we need to keep him on the boil, we need to keep going, make sure he knows it's not Easy Street because he has signed a new deal, he has to keep pushing really, really hard, and he has to improve his numbers - he has to score some goals, he has to contribute some assists, and I'm sure he will come the end of the season.

"He'll show how important he is to the team."

Roberts' silky skills have made him a crowd favourite on Wearside, but Mowbray says he has also shown that he is prepared to roll up his sleeves and put in the hard work when Sunderland are out of possession. Mowbray said: "I think he loves just playing footy.

He reminds me of one of those kids who was the best player in school and he is still the best player in his mind - when he gets the ball, you can't get it off him. Yet, he is probably not driven to show off every day. He just does what he does, and sometimes you need to remind him 'come on son, we're trying to win games, not just playing in the playground - you have to put that ball in the box and we'll try and get the strikers in the right place and you have to keep on delivering'.

"If you give him a focus and tell him what is required, he generally reacts and tries to do what you want. Running back is not his game, it's not his strength, but I see him working really hard for the team as a wide attacker or winger, whatever you want to call him.

"I think he works hard for the team when we haven't got the ball, and he is very, very creative when we have got the ball."