The three clubs to have gone up from the Championship have come straight back down in the last two seasons, emphasising the worrying gulf between the top flight and second tier.
But Patterson believes the Black Cats have the quality in their squad to cope and flourish in the Premier League, and while the goalkeeper is still pinching himself at the prospect of facing the world’s best, he says Sunderland will be out to compete rather than just make up the numbers.
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“It’s going to be an incredible season,” said Patterson.
“We’re going to be coming up against the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United, Man City, and it’s just going to be surreal, but it’s a challenge all the lads are looking forward to.
“I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet but it will as we reflect over the summer.”
After winning promotion to the Premier League, Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester accumulated just 59 points between them last season, with the Foxes, best placed of the three in 18th, finishing 13 points adrift of safety.
But Patterson insists Sunderland are confident they can finish above the dotted line.
“Definitely, I think we’ve got the quality, you’ve seen that,” he said.
“I think we’ve got unreal amounts of quality so let’s see what we can do in the Premier League next season.”
Had Sunderland failed to win promotion, they’d have almost certainly lost a number of key men this summer. Enzo Le Fee’s deal wouldn’t have been made permanent and interested clubs would have circled around their stars.
Jobe Bellingham is still likely to leave in the coming weeks, with the midfielder having held talks with clubs in Germany, but Patterson believes the bulk of Sunderland’s group will stay together.
He said: “Yeah, I think so. I think the togetherness we’ve got as a group is incredible.
“I’ve never seen a group like it and it got us over the line – it’s been incredible.”
