Rodgers’ praise for loan star Roberts

CITY loanee Patrick Roberts has made a big step forward in one area of his game and that should help him push for a role in Pep Guardiola’s squad next season.

That’s the view of Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, who has spoken of his pleasure at working with the England U20 international over the last year of his 18-month loan spell with the Scottish Champions.

Roberts has chalked up 11 goals in 45 appearances for Celtic this season and has been an impressive contributor to their quest to make history by recording an ‘Invincibles’ season.

The 20-year-old scored two brilliant goals as part of a 5-0 rout of Partick Thistle on Thursday night, but Rodgers believes it is the improvement in his pressing game and movement off the ball that has been the biggest benefit as he looks to challenge for a first team place at the Etihad Stadium.

“He’s a top, top talent,” said Rodgers.

“You can see him benefiting from playing within a structure and the idea of how we play will be very similar when he goes back to Man City.

“Over the course of this season, first and foremost, he has learned how to press the ball, to be in the right positions and be intense and aggressive when he doesn’t have it.

“That element of his game has improved and the rest is about positioning and where to be on the field, and that last third of the pitch, the incisive phase, is about his magic.

“He is a brilliant young player.”