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Manchester City loanee Patrick Roberts can earn roster spot upon return from Celtic

By Ben Kupiszewski

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Patrick Roberts of Celtic goes past Gael Clichy of Manchester City prior to scoring the first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City FC and Celtic FC at Etihad Stadium on December 6, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Patrick Roberts of Celtic goes past Gael Clichy of Manchester City prior to scoring the first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City FC and Celtic FC at Etihad Stadium on December 6, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Returning from loan, winger Patrick Roberts has the opportunity to find favor with Pep Guardiola and possibly earn a spot on the team sheet.

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It’s been a while since Patrick Roberts has spent any real time at Manchester City. Nope, I’m not counting the the 2016 Champions League group stage match when Celtic, the club Roberts has played for the last two seasons, visited the Etihad.

The 20-year-old has been gone for some time now. Now’s he’s returning from his loan from Glasgow, his City future is up to him.

The Daily Star reports that Roberts will go on summer tour with Pep Guardiola‘s club. This will most likely serve as an audition to whether he has a place in the Catalan’s plans.

There are a couple factors working in Roberts’ advantage. Although Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling have locked up the starting winger spots for now, Roberts can earn at least a squad spot to spell their legs if not challenge them for minutes. As he Daily Star quickly notes, Jesus Navas is 31 with an expiring contract and the 30-year-old Nolito has slid down the bench for Guardiola in 2017.

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Plus, Guardiola has said he wants more English and homegrown players, if he can afford them. As City owns the rights to Roberts, seeing what the young English winger learned under Brendan Rodgers seems to make a lot of sense.

In his two years at Celtic, Roberts has notched 12 goals, including one against his dear parent club.

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Granted, it unfortunately doesn’t take a lot to embarrass our defenders or goalkeepers. But it also means he probably can humiliate other back lines too.

So why not see the what the lad can do?

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