‘All I needed’ – Patrick Roberts reveals the driving factor behind Birmingham City loan move

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Patrick Roberts has lifted the lid on the reason why Birmingham City was the perfect loan move for him.

Roberts joined Birmingham on loan from Sunderland until the end of the season as the Blues fended off interest from Derby County, who wanted the winger permanently.

The former Manchester City man was part of Sunderland’s play-off final winning squad but has seen himself fall down the pecking order after a busy summer at the Stadium of Light.

Birmingham have been active in the window too, trying to recruit high-quality players, and Roberts only needed one thing to convince him to come to St Andrew’s.

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Patrick Roberts spills the story on Chris Davies conversation

The Celtic and Birmingham connection is strong in the West Midlands this season, with a host of former players and staff from the Glasgow club now at Birmingham.

Manager Chris Davies briefly worked with Roberts while he was on loan at Celtic and the 28-year-old said that one call was all he needed to reunite with Davies after seven years apart.

He told the Blues’ social media channels: “I know the manager, I worked with him when I was younger, so really, one phone call from him was all I needed.

“I was only young when I was at Celtic, him and Brendan Rodgers both helped me and you could see from there how he would take to being a manager.

“I didn’t take much convincing, it’s a big club and getting them back to where they should be was an aim and I’m here to try and help them.”

When can Patrick Roberts make his Birmingham City debut?

As a new signing, Roberts is no doubt keen to try and hit the ground running, but will have to be patient due to the international break.

That gives the winger over a week to bed in and get used to his new teammates before Birmingham try to return to winning ways after losing to Leicester City.

It’s a short trip across the midlands as they face high-flying Stoke City, who have made an excellent start to the season under Mark Robins.

How do you think Roberts will fare at Birmingham?