'Could easily play Championship': Ex-Sunderland striker backs Ethan Robson to prove the Black Cats wrong

Robson was one of five players who were confirmed to be leaving the club earlier this week as Phil Parkinson continues to shape his squad ahead of the 2020/21 season.

Jack Baldwin, Joel Lynch, Duncan Watmore and Alim Ozturk will also be leaving the club, while Sunderland have offered fresh terms to Chris Maguire, Jon McLaughlin and Tom Flanagan.

And Elliott believes that the Black Cats could have made a mistake when it comes to Robson – who he feels has the potential to play in the Championship in the future.

He tweeted: “Watched him at Dundee & Grimsby (different leagues I’m aware) & he was outstanding.

“When he did play for club in few games he showed quality. No doubt he’ll be a player that we’ll be talking about in future saying he should have been kept!

“He could easily play championship.”

Elliott also backed Lynden Gooch to prove a key man for Sunderland next season, and is hopeful the Californian-born attacker can strike a level of consistency that will make hi a ‘class above’ in the third tier.

“Gooch staying fit and in form will be very important for the club because when he is firing he is a class above at league 1 level,” he added.

“Consistency will be everything for him.”