I HAD TO RETURN FOR THESE FANS

Some promised to do certain things if I returned... I hope they do!

As an avid fan of social media, Patrick Roberts’ summer of uncertainty was never likely to be spent alone.

‘The fans were tweeting me every day, asking me to come back,’ he smiled. ‘My Twitter timeline froze at times. It’s a privilege and honour for me that they wanted me that much.

‘some promised to do certain things if I signed and I really hope they do…’

such vows included the predictable, the preposterous and the downright insane.

If the pledge to have Roberts’ face tattooed on various body parts was hardly a fresh negotiating tool, the bright spark who first tweeted a photo of his dear grandmother being held hostage in a cage — only to be freed if the winger re-signed — did not go unnoticed.

‘I think that was tweeted a few times,’ laughed Roberts. ‘I wondered if they had the same granny!’

Pressure from more familiar sources also helped sway his decision. Kieran Tierney — or Mr Celtic as Roberts calls him — never gave the Englishman a moment’s peace from the minute last season concluded on such a historical note.

The full-back’s delight and surprise upon learning that his close friend had indeed signed on the dotted line again on Monday seemed entirely genuine.

‘I was talking to Kieran every day and he was asking me what was going on,’ explained Roberts.

‘I couldn’t really tell him much until it was sorted on Monday night. He was happy for me.

‘He was with scotland at Mar Hall so I FaceTimed him while my dad went down to sauchiehall street to get me a nando’s. I was making him a little bit jealous with that but I will see him when he’s back from international duty.’

It has already been quite a homecoming. Outside Celtic Park yesterday evening, around 200 supporters gathered in the sunshine to greet a player who has been with them since January of last year.

Taking his time to sign no 7 jerseys already emblazoned with his name, the little man from London’s affection for everything about the Glasgow giants was abundantly clear.

‘We’ll have to wait and see what I can offer,’ he said. ‘But I just want to repay the fans on the pitch for the belief they have put in me.

‘I want to excite them. They pay good money to watch us play. What they deserve is for us to play attractive football and score lots of goals.

‘We’ll see what the season holds but I just hope to bring them a lot of joy and a lot of wins as well.’

In the weeks following the completion of the Treble, the prospect of Roberts returning to Celtic looked close to nil.

In keeping with Manchester City’s policy of farming their kids out to different clubs in consecutive seasons, the 20-yearold was offered nice, Girona or southampton. not once did he waver from his original standpoint; Celtic would be where he would develop to the highest degree.

‘It’s been a strange summer but I’m just buzzing to be back here,’ continued Roberts.

‘I had to be positive at City during pre-season. Most players will tell you it’s a tough squad to play in. at times it can be horrible but you have to think about your own development.

‘Coming back here was in my best interests. That’s what I thought was right.

‘Pep (Guardiola) was good with me. He is a massive manager in charge of a massive team. speaking to him, he wants me to improve as a player and get better with every game.

‘He didn’t want City to get Celtic in the Champions League again but he knows it’s good for me to play in it.’

If Roberts first arrived at Celtic Park as a relative unknown, he returns as a bona fide star.

Trusted with the same jersey worn by Kenny Dalglish, Henrik Larsson and Jimmy Johnstone, the player views the number on his back as an inspiration rather than a burden.

‘I know it’s just a number but it’s more than that for me and these fans,’ he said.

‘I took that into consideration. I know what it means to the club.

‘Taking it, I want to do my very best to succeed the legends that have worn it in the past.

‘I’m a bit too young for Jinky but I’ve seen lots of Henrik on DVD and the amount of goals he scored, especially in Europe.

‘You could see the ability he had. He’s the king up here and it’s an honour to wear the same shirt.

‘Kenny was my dad’s favourite player when he wore no 7 for Liverpool, so no pressure then! I’m just proud to play for this team, just like those legends.’

no one who has seen Roberts in full flow would doubt for a second that such an honour will distract him. now regularly betraying the reasons why City shelled out an eight-figure sum to Fulham for his services, his ice-cool temperament seems almost unnatural for one so young.

‘Once I get on the pitch my mindset changes,’ he explained. ‘I just love playing football. I’ve been doing it for years and nothing can faze me, really. I enjoy it and I want the others around me to enjoy it.

‘That’s what I’ve come here to do and I’m at a club where I know I can do that. I feel happy here and, if the club and the fans are happy as well, that’s all I can ask for.’

Last season ticked just about every box imaginable. If there was one lingering regret, one he would dearly love to put right, scoring against Rangers is probably it.

‘I know how people take it up here and to score against them, you go down in the history books,’ he said.

‘We did a lot last year with the 5-1 games and they were special to the fans and to us. To repeat that would be immense and it wouldn’t be too bad to nick a goal as well.’

His re-signing will increase expectations that Celtic’s second successive tilt at the Champions League will prove more than just another learning curve.

Paris saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are UEFa’s aristocracy. Only a fool would ignore anderlecht’s pedigree down the years. Roberts, though, sees only grounds for optimism.

‘If you want to go far you’ll have to play these teams at some point,’ he said. ‘To get them in the group stage is good for the fans and us.

‘There are three top sides in there and they won’t enjoy coming to Celtic Park under the lights.

‘It will be intimidating for them. Hopefully, we can use that to our advantage.’

Being competitive in that environment is perhaps the best Celtic can hope for. Domestically, the bar is set far higher.

Last year, with Roberts on board, it was pinned at an impossibly high mark. To go one campaign undefeated was historic. Doing it again would lurch into miraculous territory.

‘Well, we’ve won the first game and haven’t lost since,’ added Roberts. ‘We had that belief last year. You never know what can happen this season.

‘Obviously, there might be blips here and there but last season we kept strong and focused. That was down to the manager.

‘He’ll be the same this year — perhaps even more determined. We’ll be right at it throughout the season.’