The fleet-footed Roberts has just six months left on his loan deal at Celtic Park before heading back to Manchester City.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers believes on-loan winger Patrick Roberts can force his way into Manchester City’s first-team next season, the Daily Record reports.
City paid around £12 million to sign the England youth international from Fulham in the summer of 2015, according to Sky Sports, before sending him out on an 18-month temporary deal to Celtic in order to provide a valuable taste of first-team football and prepare him for his return to the Etihad.
The 19-year-old appears every bit the prototype Pep Guardiola player, with his smart technique, close control and innate vision more reminiscent of a player reared in typical Mediterranean tradition rather than in the youth systems of England.
And, after netting an impressive six goals in 11 Scottish Premiership appearances in the second half of last season under Ronny Deila, including a sublime brace against Hearts in April which earned him the Player of the Month award, Roberts has impressed from the bench under Brendan Rodgers, a man who helped hone the talents of Raheem Sterling and co at Liverpool.
And Rodgers, who compared the teenager to City playmaker David Silva according to the Manchester Evening News, believes Roberts can make his mark under a coach who developed the likes of Pedro and Sergio Busquetts into serial trophy winners.
“He’s got great quality, he’s a wonderful talent and a real good kid to work with,” the former Liverpool boss said in quotes reported by the Daily Record.
“He will come back [to Man City] in the summer having learned a bit and having become more tactically intelligent and I think Pep and the coaching staff will take a good look at him.”
With Sterling Leroy Sane, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Jesus Navas and co all vying for a starting spot in one of City’s attacking positons, Roberts may find first-team football hard to come by next season.
Though, if there’s any manager who’s going to put his trust in a sprightly youngster over an established star, its Pep Guardiola.
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