Jonny Hayes excited about Patrick Roberts’ Celtic return

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Patrick Roberts has returned to Celtic on a season-long loan, and Jonny Hayes has recalled previously coming up against the winger.

Jonny Hayes has labelled Patrick Roberts’ performance when he faced Celtic last season as outstanding, and suggested that he was delighted when the winger returned to Parkhead this season, the Evening Times reports.

Roberts handed the Hoops a major boost during the final days of the transfer window, by agreeing a season-long loan after the success of his 18-month spell with the Bhoys which ended at the start of the summer.

The deal meant however, that Hayes – also a summer signing, having joined from Aberdeen – faced more competition for a place in the side.

But the 30-year-old insisted that Roberts returning has handed everyone a boost, and recalled his assessment of the 20-year-old’s performance when the Dons faced Celtic last term.

“I played against Patrick last year and he was outstanding,” he said, as reported by the Evening Times.

“That is what you want. We are going into the Champions League, we want to stay successful in Scotland and you want to have as strong a squad as you possibly can.”

While some may fear for Hayes’ chances of getting into the team on a regular basis now that Roberts has returned, Brendan Rodgers will surely need to use all of his squad extensively to ensure that they are as competitive on all fronts as possible.

The Hoops will be looking to replicate their domestic dominance this term while also balancing another crack at the Champions League group-stages, so there is undoubtedly a role for Hayes to play as the season continues.