Roberts: I want to play for Celtic NOT England this summer

Patrick Roberts has urged for the English FA to allow him to stay with Celtic this summer and help them qualify for the Champions League.

The winger, who is currently on-loan from Manchester City, could play for England this summer in the European Under-19 Championships in Germany.

However, if the 19-year-old was able to make the choice himself this summer – he would stay at Paradise.

As quoted by the Daily Mail, he said:

Club and country will decide but my preference is to play with Celtic. Chances to qualify for the Champions League don’t come around often for me, so to do that would be a big honour.

I’ve always wanted to play in the Champions League and to help Celtic do that would be my biggest achievement.

Aidy Boothroyd (his England boss) also wants me but, ultimately, it won’t be up to me to decide.

Celtic and England will talk to each other and I’ll just play my football. A new (Celtic) manager will come in and may want to see me, so it will be up to him to decide as well.

Roberts has lit up the Celtic side since his move north of the border in January, but only broke into the first-team in March.

Since then, he has started every game but one against Kilmarnock, when he came off the bench at half-time.

At the weekend, Roberts scored his third goal in less than a month against Hearts and helped Celtic to another win that all but confirmed their fifth successive league title.

Celtic have been absent from the premier European stage for two years on the bounce, and Roberts commitment to his loan club could go some way to helping them qualify this summer.