Patrick Roberts takes the bruises as a backhanded compliment.

The teenage winger has invited his fair share of kicks in his career, not that he takes it personally.

“I guess any team, when they play Celtic, will look to kick us off the park,” he said. “We have so much quality in the team and they look for other ways to stop us but that is normal. “We go into each game and we have to sense that and look for ways to overcome it.

“We are all good players right down to defence but it can be tough when they come to Celtic Park or we go away and we know there are no easy games and try to overcome these things.

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“I have been kicked many times, even in England. Everyone has their pride and they don’t want to be embarrassed if you get passed them. We just get on with it.”

Roberts has confirmed that Brendan Rodgers has moved to sound him out about the possibility of remaining in Glasgow beyond his current loan deal.

The Englishman is due to return to parent club Manchester City, whom he scored against for Celtic in the UEFA Champions League group stages, at the end of the season. It would be the culmination of an 18-month spell with Celtic, but the Parkhead club are keen to keep Roberts at the club for the ling-term.

Whether that is something that comes to fruition remains to be seen and the 19-year-old was coy on what the next step might be for him.

“I have just focused on this season and trying to enjoy it,” he said. “I am just looking to this season, I haven’t thought about it at all. I will think about it when it comes to it.

“The manager has been great and he has expressed to me how he likes me as a player and it is good for me to know that he believes in me.

“He understands that you don’t know what is going to happen in football so I just want to enjoy my football right now.

“I have loved every minute of it, of playing up here. There have been a lot of games, good atmospheres and it is a really good bunch of lads.

“The impression I got before I came here was that it was a professional, top-class club and that is exactly what I have found. I just want to enjoy the rest of the season now.”

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Pep Guardiola hasn’t been on the phone to Roberts, although the player remains in contact with officials at the Etihad. His goal in December on his own home soil will have felt particularly satisfying but it remains to be seen whether or not the teenager believes he can return to Manchester and fight for a regular starting berth.

“I don’t speak to anyone in relation to that,” he said. “I speak to the staff down there who speak to me, who keep me pushing and keep me going throughout the season. I haven’t spoken to Pep or anyone. I got a few texts after the goa.

“I am part of City and they want me to do well and I spoke to a few people down there that I had dealings with and they were all pleased for me.”

Roberts’ more immediate job is to get himself a regular start. He has vied for a position on the flank with James Forrest this term with both players getting their chance at various stages of the season.

However, Roberts’ arrival onto last Sunday’s game against Albion Rovers resulted in him setting up Moussa Dembele and then Stuart Armstrong for the last two goals of the 3-0 win and could well be sufficient to earn him a start for tonight’s meeting with St Johnstone at Celtic Park.

Read more: Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers out to make a little history tonight

“Everyone in the squad deserves to be there because they are all good players and the manager has brought new belief,” he said. “James is a great player and he has shown that with his performances this season. He is a top player and I am glad for him that he is doing well and he is keeping me out of the side just now.”

Celtic could level a 50-year record set by the Lisbon Lions tonight of 26 games without defeat at the start of a season and Roberts would like the chance to play his part.

“That would be good,” he said. “Hopefully we can go into the game as we always have this season and go looking to get the best result that we can.

“The manager is experienced at motivating players and he has that in the locker. He has said to us that we need to keep pushing and not get slack or we will lose games. He has kept us thinking that way throughout the season and especially after the trip to Dubai we have to keep going and keep our focus.

“Players just enjoy playing football and enjoy winning. When you are winning every week you get a real buzz out of it and you want to keep doing it. I think the momentum right now is good and as long as we stay focussed and concentre I am sure it will be a good season.”