ROBERTS CAN PLAY FOR PEP, INSISTS IHEANACHO

KELECHI IHEANACHO claims Patrick Roberts has the ability to return to Manchester City and develop into one of the best players in the world.

Iheanacho shared the goals with Roberts as City and Celtic said farewell to the Champions League group stage in midweek — and next season he expects the two to be playing on the same team.

Roberts is almost two thirds of the way through his 18-month loan spell at Parkhead and the individual effort scored by the winger to put Celtic a goal up at the Etihad may prove the pivotal moment of his temporary transfer.

Signed from Fulham on the watch of Manuel Pellegrini in the summer of 2015, Roberts (right) was handed a perfect opportunity to show Pep Guardiola what he can do.

And Iheanacho believes the former Barcelona coach can only have been impressed.

‘It was good to see Patrick play — he is my mate and I thought he played very well,’ said Iheanacho, a full Nigerian internationalist at 20. ‘He showed he is a great player and I hope to see him come back next season.

‘In training, he used to show us he is going to be one of the best players in the world, so I think when he comes back he will be exactly the same because he has the quality.

‘Everyone can see Patrick has good feet. He is good player with a great future.’