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Aidy Boothroyd explains Patrick Roberts snub

Aidy Boothroyd, England U21 Manager gives his team instructions during a England U21 Training Session at St Georges Park on October 4, 2017 in Burt...
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Manchester City-owned Celtic winger Patrick Roberts will not play for the England Under-21 side against their Scotland counterparts this evening.

Patrick Roberts of Celtic celebrates after he scores his team's fourth goal  during the Ladbrokes Premiership match between Hearts and Celtic at Tynecastle Stadium on April 2, 2017 in...

England Under-21 manager Aidy Boothroyd has explained to The Glasgow Evening Times why Celtic winger Patrick Roberts is not part of his team at the moment.

Roberts is not part of the England Under-21 side for their Euro 2019 qualifier against their Scotland counterparts at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough this evening.

The 20-year-old winger is one of the best young players in Scotland and has been in superb form for Celtic so far this season.

The former Fulham youngster returned to the Scottish Premiership giants in the summer transfer window on a season-long loan deal from Premier League giants Manchester City.

Moussa Dembele of Celtic celebrate at the final Whistle with team mate Patrick Roberts during the Scottish Premiership match between Rangers FC and Celtic FC at Ibrox Stadium on December...

England Under-21 manager Boothroyd explains his decision not to include Roberts in his squad, suggesting that he lost out to 20-year-old New York City winger Jack Harrison.

“Patrick Roberts is a very good player who has done well and impressed for Celtic in the Champions League last week,” Boothroyd told The Glasgow Evening Times.

“But I just looked at Pat and I looked at Jack and thought Jack had probably had a few more games than Patrick has had, who’s in a better place and he deserves a call-up.”

Patrick Roberts of Celtic tackles Josh Windass of Rangers during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premier league match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park Stadium on September 10, 2016 in...

One suspects that Roberts, who is hugely popular among the Celtic fans, will be disappointed at not being called up to the England Under-21 side, but there is nothing much he can do.

The youngster should continue giving his best for Celtic this season, and perhaps in the coming months and years he could even earn a call-up to the England senior team.