LOAN STAR
Hemightbeonly20butpatrick Roberts is already certain winning a treble while remaining unbeaten will be the greatest achievement of his career.
The winger was hailed by the Celtic fans at the end of Saturday’s Scottish Cup final win over Aberdeen and will return to parent club Manchester City for the start of pre-season.
But he is sure to be welcome back at Parkhead if that’s where his future should lie next season. Brendan Rodgers has already signalled his intent to recruit him again if City decide he can leave on loan once more.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever play for a team who can go a whole season unbeaten – invincible,” said Roberts. “So I think, when I look back on my career, this will be the biggest highlight, my biggest accomplishment in the game. It’s good to get that so young, although I hopefully have a big career ahead of me.”
Roberts will be anguished to leave Kieran Tierney when he returns to England. The youngsters have become good friends and Roberts, prematurely it turned out, wore Tierney’s top at the end of Saturday’s game, with the fullback having received a broken jaw earlier.
But Tierney did make it back in time to enjoy the celebrations after returning from hospital following a clash with Aberdeen striker Jayden Stockley in the first half. Tierney was particularly emotional when he lifted the cup, turning to the Celtic fans while grabbing the club crest on his (replacement) shirt.
Proving he has picked up the Scottish vernacular in what
“If it is a goodbye, it will be a tough goodbye. I’ve been given an opportunity to play in massive games, to win trophies and win titles”
PATRICK ROBERTS has, to date, been a seasonand-a-half stay at Celtic, Roberts described Tierney’s bloodied mouth as “minging”.
Such was the extent of the damage, he hadn’t expected to see his friend climb the Hampden stairs to collect his