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A Celtic invincible of season 2016/17 seems to be on the move, as Sky Sports is reporting that Patrick Roberts is set to join Sunderland on loan for the second-half of the League One season in England.
Roberts, who is still just 24-year-old, has been on loan at Troyes in the first-half of the season, but has rarely featured for the French side, making just two appearances this season.
YouTube: Patrick Roberts – Celtic | Goals, Assists & Skills 2017
Now it looks as if Roberts, who is still a Manchester City player, is set to return to England. The player has played for many clubs since leaving Celtic in 2018. He has had spells at Girona, Norwich, Middlesbrough and Derby.
However, the team that he has played most for is Celtic, with Transfermarkt showing that he made 78 appearances for the Bhoys, scoring 18 goals in that time.
The team that he has made the second-most appearances for is Fulham with 22, and he played for them on loan before his time with the Hoops.
On reflection, perhaps Roberts should have joined Celtic on a permanent basis, instead of signing two loan deals with the Hoops. At the time Manchester City probably didn’t want to sell Roberts, but it is a real shame that a player with his talent has failed to hold down a regular place at any club since leaving Celtic.
YouTube: Patrick Roberts All Celtic Goals
Roberts’ performances for Celtic, especially in the second-half of the 2016/17 invincible treble season were excellent. He kept James Forrest out of the side, and so key was he to Celtic that the Hoops managed to get the player to agree another year’s loan when his initial deal expired in 2017.
He has scored for Celtic in two Champions League group stage games, including a fine strike in the 3-0 win over Anderlecht in Belgium, Celtic’s last group stage away win to date.
YouTube: Anderlecht vs Celtic 0-3 Champions League All Goals and Highlights September 27,2017
Roberts has had a decent career, but he has never again reached the heights that he did at Celtic. Perhaps he can get regular game time at Sunderland. That would be good for the player, who is still young enough to play football for around another 10 years.
Only time will tell how Roberts performs for the rest of his career. He has shown in his time at Celtic that he is more than good enough to play at a high level, and he could help Sunderland gain promotion this season.
However, perhaps when he looks back as his career overall, Roberts will feel that he should have joined Celtic on a regular basis, it would have been the right move for the player and the club at the time.
