It was revealed that Slocombe could be out for up to three weeks after taking a knock in training and, following Ciaran Brennan’s arrival on Wednesday, County have once again moved swiftly into the loan market to source cover.

Patterson, 21, is highly regarded at Sunderland and has already made 4 first-team appearances for them this season – 2 in League One and two in the EFL Trophy, emerging victorious on each occasion.

Manager Ian Burchnall told https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk: “As disappointed as we are to have lost Sam, we’re delighted to have been able to add another quality loan player in Anthony.

“I know people at Sunderland, and they rate him really highly, as evidenced by his involvement in their first-team environment not only this season but over the past few years.

“He trained with the boys, and we’ll do everything we can to fully prepare him for Altrincham.

“Contact injuries like Sam’s and Connell Rawlinson’s are inevitable over the course of a long season but to lose them both at the same time as Kyle Cameron is very unfortunate.

“These are the challenges football poses, though, and the important thing is to be prepared to deal with them, which I feel we have been”.