CONSIDERING it's against his former club where he was left out in the cold and didn't play a single minute in any competition for more than 18 months, you'd expect Simon Moore would be desperate to keep his place between the posts for Sunderland against Coventry City this weekend.

Particularly on the back of three successive clean sheets in the absence of Anthony Patterson.

Naturally, Moore would again love to pull on the gloves on Saturday. But equally the 34-year-old would completely understand if Regis Le Bris opts to recall Patterson if the injured No.1 is ready to return.

Why? Because he knows just how good Patterson is. And considering the quality of goalkeeper Moore has worked with in the past, he's well placed to comment.

"I was number two to Dean Henderson, probably the best goalkeeper I've ever worked with," he says.

"I'm probably not getting a look in there. Number two to Aaron Ramsdale, he was number two to me originally then five years down the line it's the other way around. Wojciech Szczesny... some seriously good goalkeepers and so I've been unlucky.

"I knew my role coming here and I just want the best for the club. I want Patto to be the best he can be and we've got a top relationship. I'm enjoying it.

"The training has been top notch. I love being part of it when everyone is together and that's what it is like at the moment.

"I knew coming here I was going to be number two to help Patto, and I hope he's back fit as soon as possible. He's been number one at this club for a reason, he's a top, top class goalkeeper.

"I've just had to wait for my opportunity and it's gone really well, but I do hope Patto is back soon.

"To be fair I miss him out on the training ground, we have a good laugh! He is a top keeper and we are going to need him between now and the end of the season. When I'm called upon, I'm there to do my job, do the best I possibly can and support the boys. That's the role I was given when I came here.

"For me, there was no expectations. I've been number two for a while."

What, then, has so impressed Moore about Patterson?

"It's his mindset, so strong," he says.

"Nothing really bothers him and he's very talented. He can go as far as he wants and it's my job to help with that.

"When he's playing, I want him to do well and keep clean sheets. I want the club to do well because that reflects well on all of us.

"When you get a bit older, you appreciate that more. If you're a bit younger you can want someone to do rubbish [to get in the team] but you get older... you just want a club like this to do really well.

"It's a massive club. I've been fortunate to be part of promotions before and it's the best feeling in the world."

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Moore arrived in the summer well aware that it was possible he wouldn't play a league minute for Sunderland. He's already exceeded his expectations and has played his part in the recent unbeaten stretch. Against Preston on Wednesday night, he made a superb save at full stretch to deny Emil Riis late in the first half.

He made his Sunderland debut at Deepdale in the Carabao Cup back in August, a big night for the keeper on the back of a long spell of inactivity. He was third choice goalkeeper at Coventry last season and was only once named on the bench in the league.

It's made his involvement at Sunderland all the more enjoyable.

"From a personal view, it couldn't have gone any better but there's no animosity from my point of view [if I don't play on Saturday]," he said.

"I want to do well with this football club, and the club going in the right direction is more important than whoever plays. Whatever the decision the gaffer makes, I'll be 100% behind it and if it's Patto, I'll be right behind him. I know he'll be the same. We need to get everyone back fit, because we want to give this a real good go.

"We're very fortunate to have so many good, talented players and you need strength in depth to be successful. It's a good thing, everyone gets on really well.

"If I'm selected, I'll go out there and do my best. Of course, there's that little bit of me wanting to prove [them] wrong because the last couple of years there didn't go my way, but I've still got a lot of really good friends there. It's going to be a great atmosphere, hopefully we can go into the break with three more points and top of the league still.

"It does feel really good [being part of things at Sunderland]. Off the pitch it has been a difficult couple of years.

"I think the Oxford game was my first league game in two years so there were quite a lot of nerves before that but the lads in front of me have been brilliant, it really does help when you've got a really good group.

"You've got lads like Luke [O'Nien] and Chris [Mepham], not just top players but top people as well. I am really happy with how it's gone."