Patrick Roberts was often sensational in a Celtic shirt and many thought he would be a star for years to come at Parkhead. The trickster joined the Hoops on an initial loan deal under Norwegian manager, Ronny Deila and then went on to have a pivotal role in the Invincibles side under Brendan Rodgers.
It was thought the player would commit his long-term future to the club after such a successful spell and the bond he created with the Celtic supporters. However, Patrick had other ideas and was holding out for a chance in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City team. It was pie-in-the-sky stuff from the small Englishman, but he obviously thought highly enough of his talents – which can’t really be faulted. It’s partly what gave him his arrogance on the park regularly.
A shot from Sunderland player Patrick Roberts is saved by Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Replay between Sunderland and Fulham at Stadium of Light on February 08, 2023 (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
After knocking back a permanent transfer to Paradise, the winger has suffered a poor run of luck in his career to date. But now under former Bhoys gaffer, Tony Mowbray at Sunderland, he is starting to show signs again of that quality that made the Celtic heirarchy and Brendan Rodgers so keen to sign him.
Mowbray has confessed that the ex-Fulham man is far too good for Sunderland and that he should be playing in the English Premier League. “Hopefully the penny is dropping for Pat”, as reported by Football Scotland. “He’s an amazing footballer and I hope we can help him play in the Premier League. I think he’s starting to live the life of a footballer from what I can see.
Sunderland’s English midfielder Patrick Roberts (R) runs with the ball during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Fulham and Sunderland at Craven Cottage in Fulham, west London on January 28, 2023. -(Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
“He’s lost two-and-a-half kilos in the last few weeks. I’m just trying to make him live like a footballer. Patrick Roberts shouldn’t be playing in League One or even, with total respect to this football club, he should be playing in the Premier League in my opinion. And so he has to live like it. It’s down to him, I know I maximised my career, to get to where I got in football, I wasn’t a superstar.”
Patrick Roberts scores his sides first goal past Willy Cabellero of Manchester City (L) during the UEFA Champions League Group C match at Etihad Stadium on December 6, 2016. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
He said: “I was just a centre-half who used to try and win headers, but I got the most out of myself by living the life – eating, sleeping, drinking. I haven’t drank alcohol since the age of 18 because I wanted to be the best footballer I can be. I have these conversations with Pat. He should be earning hundreds of thousands a week playing in the Premier League and living the life that his talent deserves, and yet he was playing in League One for Sunderland.”
Oh what could have been, Patrick…
Paul Gillespie
Invincible by Matt Corr. Now available on Amazon kindle…
