Patrick Roberts has addressed the possibility of a return to Celtic one day.
He has also admitted that he regrets not making his 2017 loan return a permanent move after his stellar initial 18 month spell.
Roberts entered advanced talks to join Celtic in 2021, but Ange Postecoglou reportedly pulled the plug on the move.
A return now looks less likely than ever, with the winger now enjoying his football at Birmingham – but would he be up for it?
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Patrick Roberts on Celtic: ‘I would’ve done things differently’
Roberts told The Scotsman: “I wanted to go back to Celtic after the original 18-month loan.
“There were conversations around if I should go to different places, but I wanted to carry on at Celtic.
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“I felt good, and I thought I could go on and we could do miracles again. I was at a big club in City; they put a lot into me.
“If I was to sign for Celtic again, it would have been back then; I would have signed permanently and done things a little bit differently.
“Could I have ever come back? Maybe a long time ago, before I went to Sunderland. I could have went, but it just didn’t happen.
“And when I signed back on loan for the second time, I was hoping it might have happened after that but it never happened. I had a bad last season at Celtic, so that didn’t come to anything.
“I love watching Celtic. I have a lot of admiration for Celtic, but if I was to go back it would have been when I was younger in my career. It wasn’t meant to be.
“I love where I play now, and I had the chance to play at Sunderland for four years – if I had come back, that might not have happened.
“Paths turn in different ways. But the two and a half years I had at Celtic were a pride, and a privilege. I wouldn’t go back now, but I’d love to go back and watch a game when I’m finished playing.”
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Patrick Roberts still watches Celtic matches
He continued: “I still watch the games against Rangers if I don’t have a match myself, because you get the early kick-offs. Champions League or Europa League, whichever they are in.
“I don’t always get to watch an entire 90 minutes these days, with a young boy and games myself, but I sat down and watched the entire 90 minutes of the game against Hearts last season.
“Best game I’ve seen in a while! It takes you back to Celtic and when I was there – although I don’t think it was quite as dramatic when I was there. We had the league won a few weeks earlier, normally.
“The fans, the atmosphere, it is so amazing to play there. That is what you miss about Celtic.
“The European nights, the way the crowd gets behind you when there’s things to be won and you’re going for titles. I’m lucky to have experienced three of them.”
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