Facetiming KT and ordering in a Nandos: How Patrick Roberts celebrated Celtic return

Patrick Roberts completed the requisite paperwork that took him back to Celtic Park for another season on Monday morning before sending out for takeaway from his hotel room and breaking the news that he was back to Kieran Tierney via his iPad.

“He was with Scotland at Marr Hall so I facetimed him while my Dad went down to Sauchiehall Street to get me a Nandos,” joked Roberts. “I was making him a little bit jealous with that.”

So far, so normal.

Read more: Patrick Roberts opens the door on long-term permanent move to Celtic

And yet it could hardly be described as a summer of mundanity for the 20-year-old.

On pre-season with Manchester City in America and Iceland followed by a quick trip to Girona, the incessant pinging of his phone with tweets from Celtic fans beseeching him to make his next stop back at Celtic provided the soundtrack.

But then Roberts is not seen as a normal signing for Celtic. Mindful of the form he showed in the latter four months of his loan spell last season, Celtic have forked out a sum believed to be over £2.5m for the winger and will also shoulder a significant portion of his weekly salary.

Attempts to take the player on a permanent deal were rebuffed by City and given the persuasive nature of the Celtic fans and the board to get the player, there is something special expected from Roberts in return this term.

With a smile, though, the player has insisted that he would like to see some of the proposed promises made to him on Twitter materialise now that he is back in the Hoops. One poster tweeted a picture of a granny locked in a cage – ‘sign or she doesn’t get out’ – while other pledges of inkings featured highly.

Read more: Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers believed to be keen on PSG forward Odsonne Edouard

“They just love the club and they want the club to be the best it can and I want the club to be the best it can as well,” smiled Roberts. “That means coming back and hopefully doing what we did last year.

“There are a few tattoos which I hope they stick to it and I know it’s not a permanent move but I am back so they can’t get out of it so easily.

“The picture of the granny in the cage was tweeted a few times….I wondered if they had the same granny!”

Roberts has been handed the iconic number 7 shirt and he has insisted that he feels no pressure given the weight of the number.

Around 200 fans turned out to greet the player on his return last night at Celtic Park and Roberts can’t wait to get going again after a summer of kicking his heels.

“I have worn number 7 since I was playing Sunday league and then when I was at Fulham,” he said. “With England I have always worn number 7 and I had the opportunity here.

“It is an honour to wear the number that everyone here adores. I just want to bring that kind of excitement to the fans with the way I play football. Hopefully I can do that.

“I didn’t ask for it but it was up for offer. It's an honour to wear it and hopefully I can do it proud.

Read more: Aaron Nemane never cracked a light that he was going to Rangers reveals Celtic's Patrick Roberts

“I know it’s just a number but it’s more than that for me and these fans. I took that into consideration.

“I know what it means to the club. For me, taking it, I want to do my very best to succeed the legends that have worn it in the past.

"I’m a bit too young for Jinky but I’ve seen lots of Henrik on DVD and the amount of goals he scored, especially in Europe. You could see the ability he had, he’s the king up here and it’s an honour to wear the same shirt that he’s worn.

“Kenny [Dalglish] was my dad’s favourite player when he wore No.7 for Liverpool so no pressure then! I’m just proud to play for this team, just like those legends.”

And the winger is unburdened by any notion of expectancy.

“Once I get on the pitch my mindset changes; I just love playing football," he said. "I’ve been doing it for years and nothing can faze me, really. I enjoy it and I want the others around me to enjoy it.

“That’s what I’ve come here to do and I’m at a club where I know I can do that. I feel happy here and,if the club and the fans are happy as well, that’s all I can ask for.

“We’ll have to wait and see what I can offer. But I just want to repay the fans on the pitch for the belief they have put in me.

“I want to excite them. They pay good money to watch us play. What they deserve is for us to play attractive football, score lots of goals and play well. We’ll see what the season holds but I just hope to bring them a lot of joy and obviously a lot of wins as well.”

Read more: Patrick Roberts opens the door on long-term permanent move to Celtic

The deal to return to Celtic wasn’t complete until after Celtic had secured their place in the group stages of the Champions League. As was the case last year, there is no block on Roberts featuring against City should their paths cross at any point in European competition but for now there are only thoughts of PSG, Bayern Munich and Anderlecht.

“If you want to go far you’ll have to play these teams at some point,” said Roberts. “To get them in the group stages is good for the fans, the club and for us.

“There are three top sides in there and they won’t enjoy coming to Celtic Park under the lights. It will be intimidating for them. Hopefully we can use that to our advantage.

“I watched the return leg against Astana. It was a bit nerve wracking when it got to 4-1 but the first leg showed the quality in the side.”