PATRICK ROBERTS yesterday name checked Lionel Messi not only as an inspiration but a player he genuinely strives to become. Celtic supporters are in for a treat over the next 18 months if he can also walk the walk.

Youtube tends only to highlight the good bits of any player and the teenager, on loan from Manchester City, has a clips reel which shows this winger, who moved from Fulham last summer for a £12million, has talent oozing out of his pours.

He is no Messi of course but if Roberts, who turns 19 next week, can handle the physicality of Scottish football, he is small with hardly an ounce of fat on him, then this future star of English football, according to many who have watched his progress, might prove to be a long-awaited successful signing by Celtic.

“It’s a conscious thing from me to be like Messi,” said Roberts. “I’ve watched him for years and he’s my idol. You try to copy what he does and it also comes naturally to me as well.

“Because I’m left-footed I tend to move the same way as he does. In games I try to replicate what he does. I’ve studied him on Youtube and when La Liga is on I watch that all the time. My view is that you watch the best to learn from the best.

“I’m very determined. I started playing for Fulham at 14, which is quite late, and was in and around the first team at 16. I’ve had the determination to play at the highest level and I’m more than capable to do it. I’ve got the head for it, the mental side and the ability and my goals are achievable.”

So Roberts is good enough for City to shell out silly money on him after just 22 games for Fulham, and there was surely other clubs interested in a loan deal, why Celtic and why Scottish football?

“My agent called me and said Celtic were interested - and when you hear that you want to come and play for such a big club,” he said. When you are not playing you need to get out and play regular football.

“You need to play – that was always in my head. It’s all good and well City going onto win the Champions league but if you’re not involved then it doesn’t mean as much.

“Here I could be a hero winning things and that is always good. For a young age I wanted to be on the pitch – I hate watching football when I could play. To come here and win a league to win a medal is much more important to me than sitting in the stands and watching City win.

“I hate watching football, I like getting involved, scoring goals and having moments on the field that you can cherish forever. Playing is more enjoyable than anything.

“Jason Denayer had good things to say about Celtic at the start of the season. The lads in the changing room also say to me to go out and play. I sit next to Fabian Delph and Gael Clichy and they are my best buddies. They give me stick but they also know that I’m a good player and they say it’s best to go away and express myself.”

A few hours before Roberts was introduced to the press came the not entirely unexpected news that Pep Guardiola would be taking over from Manuel Pelligrini at Manchester City, a development which seemed to have been met with shrug of the shoulders by young Roberts.

He was more interested in looking ahead to what he can achieve with Celtic, especially in Europe and what the club hopes to be a proper crack at the Champions League, although in the wake of losing to Ross Country, the notion of that team taking on Bayern Munich is laughable.

“I can understand that length of contract because the manager wants to plan for Europe and I want to play in Europe too,” said Roberts. That’s an aspiration for me – to play in the Champions League - and that kind of football and winning loads of trophies is very exciting for a young player.”