This afternoon will be the swansong for Patrick Roberts as the on-loan Celtic winger brings down the curtain down on his two-and-a-half year tenure at the club.

Roberts will return to parent club Manchester City after this afternoon’s game at Hampden against Motherwell and the 20-year-old wants to bow out in style as the Parkhead seek to replicate last season’s treble winning antics.

The player was a key part of the Invincibles last term as Celtic but this season his influence has been curtailed by injury and the form of the impressive James Forrest.

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But as he seeks to prepare for pastures new, Roberts will look to leave a lasting impression on Brendan Rodgers’ side.

“I want to leave on high and get the trophy, especially for myself and the boys and the fans and the club,” he said. “We’ll go into the game positive and focus on Motherwell.

“Of course it would be great for the fans and their support. The win is the most important thing. To get on the pitch, finish on a high and say goodbye to them.

“But the win is most important. All the boys will be up for it.

“Especially if we do it it’ll probably be one of the most important aspects of my career. I’ve hopefully got a long way ahead of me.”

There was much fanfare last August when news was confirmed that Roberts had agreed a further year at Celtic after a summer of speculation.

‘PR7’ was the razzmatazz unveiling of the return of a player who had taken on the role of fans’ favourite but it hasn’t quite panned out as he would have wanted.

“It happens. It’s football,” he shrugged. “Many players will tell you that. You can’t choose when you get injured so when it comes about you stay positive and stay mentally strong then come back and try to stay fit which I’ve done so far.

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“It’s tough. There is a big squad and you want to play but it’s not always the case. It’s a team game and you do whatever is best for the team.

The lads who have been playing have been brilliant so it’s been hard getting into the team. But I’ve been there training making sure everyone else is prepared.

“As a footballer you need to get used to things working out. You need to stay positive which I have been and always will be.

“This club has been great and I’ve enjoyed every minute. I’ll keep enjoying it until the last second.

“I thought I had unfinished business here and I wanted to come back. Unfortunately it’s not panned out the way I’d hoped but being here has been a huge honour and I’ve enjoyed pulling on the shirt.”

Despite the fact that Roberts has made it clear he wishes to pursue other options this summer, he has admitted that he will take a part of Celtic with him when he goes.

His brother, Adam, has become a fan of the club while his friendship with Kieran Tierney is one that should endure.

Read more: Tom Rogic insists he can be a Celt for life as he looks to recreate Hampden heroics

In any case, the time that Roberts spent at Celtic was longer than some players spend after signing permanently – his loan deal has outlasted the tenure of the likes of Paulo di Canio and Jorge Cadete – and the winger has thanked the club for helping him grow up.

“You’ve got to take chances when they come,” he said. “I had games in my head and they’re obviously just in my head so I’ve got to put them into place and get them out there.

“That’s for me to kick on and achieve and I’ll do my utmost to do that. It’s not just in the Premier League.

“I’ve got all sorts of ambitions and dreams I want to achieve and put in place and go out there and do it.

“But being here has been a dream. You don’t quite know the feeling of playing here until you come here. From start to finish it’s been unbelievable.

“I came at 18, I’d only played a few games at Fulham then went to Man City and didn’t play there.

“Coming here was my first big opportunity at men’s football. You grow up quite quickly with the physicality of the league and players.

“It makes you grow up. I have done as a person as well. It’s brought me on a lot in my game and I’m thankful for that.”

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For now, though, there will be a return to City to see what the future holds.

“There have been no real conversations,” he said. “There is nothing to be said, they won the league astonishingly. We’ve won the league here and have the cup final to come.

“I have aims in my head I can climb Mount Everest but I don’t know if I’m going to do it or not. I’ll have dreams and objectives where I want to be. But it’s about me putting it into place.

“Hopefully my career will pan out the way I want it to. I just enjoy playing football. Wherever I play I just enjoy it.

“It doesn’t faze me. In the summer I’ll go back and see what happens.”