Patrick Roberts looks unlikely to make any sort of return to Celtic this month after it was reported that he is set to find yet another loan club.
The 22-year-old, who is still somehow on Manchester City’s books, is midway through a loan spell at Norwich City. However, Roberts has featured precious little for the Canaries and is likely to have his loan cut short by the English treble winners.
Sky Sports report that the winger will then be “immediately” loaned out to Championship side Middlesbrough “before the weekend” where he will spend the remainder of the 2019/2020 season.
Hopefully Roberts can find his form at Middlesbrough
That would cut short any chat about Roberts returning to Celtic Park – where he spent the best part of three seasons and won seven trophies. That period of the trickster’s career is by far his best thus far and he has really struggled to find any sort of level away from the east end of Glasgow.
In the wake of James Forrest’s dismal derby display, many Hoops fans have called out for another right-winger to be added to this month’s growing shopping list. The Scottish international has been terrific over the past 18 months or so but it is felt that extra competition could do him the world of good.
Forrest played some of his best football when Roberts was at the club, pushing him for a starting spot. But this is a much diminished version of Roberts, and one who would have to fight hard even to make Neil Lennon’s matchday squad.
Not too many supporters will be too gutted by today’s development. But we wish him well for the remainder of the season, wherever he ends up.
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