Reported Celtic target Mitchell Roberts’ idol gives a clue to his style of play

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Celtic are reportedly set to beat Premier League champions Manchester City to the signing of Birmingham’s Championship starlet Mitchell Roberts.

The identify of Mitchell Roberts’ favourite centre-back perhaps offers a hint about what he would bring to Celtic.

According to the Scottish Sun, Neil Lennon’s side are set to follow up the signing of Republic of Ireland wonderkid Luca Connell with another highly-rated young talent. Teenage defender Mitchell is apparently on his way to Parkhead with Celtic beating Manchester City to the signature of the Birmingham starlet.

The report adds that Celtic are confident of winning the race with the transfer window already shut for clubs in England’s top flight. Man City will have to wait until January if they want to get the deal done but Roberts could already be wearing green and white by then.

Now, a budding young defender needs more than impressive reading of the game and an eye-catching leap if he wants to play for Celtic. The dominant force in Scottish football frequently dominate possession with their foot firmly pressed on the opposition’s throat, even if Neil Lennon has diluted Brendan Rodgers’ purist tactics somewhat.

Nevertheless, this means that every centre-half who wears Celtic colours simply must be confident with the ball at their feet.

Fortunately, Roberts’ centre-back idol is none other than Manchester City’s two-time Premier League winner John Stones – a man who perhaps epitomises the rise of the ball-playing centre-back more than any other.

According to Birmingham’s official website, Roberts even believes the £47.5 million Stones is the best defender in world football right now. And while the cynics may scoff at that assessment with Stones’ costly error in England’s Nations League semi-final collapse against Holland fresh in the mind, Mitchell is clearly a fan of players with the confidence to pass the ball into midfield and knock the ball around opposition forwards like they are cones on a training pitch.

So if Mitchell is capable of following in Stones’ footsteps, he should fit in comfortably at Celtic.