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The Sunderland loanee was in fine form at the weekend for Birmingham City, and he must return to their starting XI.
Sunderland loanee Patrick Roberts provided the assist for Lyndon Dykes’ winner for Birmingham City in the final moments of the game against Swansea City.
Wonderful footwork from Roberts carved out an opening before a pinpoint cross was met by the Blues striker to secure three points.
With Birmingham facing Coventry City on the road this weekend, Chris Davies must return Roberts to his starting XI to help solve the Blues’ glaring issue.
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Patrick Roberts can help solve Birmingham City’s goalscoring issues
Despite enjoying an average of 56% possession so far in the Championship season, Birmingham have not been prolific enough in front of goal.
Although they sit eighth in the table, Davies’ side have only scored five goals so far in their six second tier outings ahead of the Coventry trip.
It’s no coincidence that Sunderland loanee Roberts has been directly involved in one of Birmingham’s five goals this season despite only playing 83 minutes in a Blues jersey.
Former Birmingham and Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray called Roberts a “genius” on Saturday, just hours before he put the winner on a plate for Dykes.
Last season, Roberts was Sunderland’s top assister (seven), meaning that Davies must harness his creative spark by starting him at Coventry to help solve the Blues’ blunt attacking play and one forward’s form.
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Patrick Roberts’ presence can help Kyogo Furuhashi’s Birmingham City form
Roberts could also help Kyogo Furuhashi’s form, with the winger’s link-up play seen with Amad Diallo at the Stadium of Light the perfect example of what the 28-year-old can produce alongside fellow technically gifted attackers.
The former Celtic star has scored just once in his first eight Birmingham appearances since his eight-figure arrival from Rennes in the summer.
Against Swansea, Roberts slipped his fellow substitute through, but Furuhashi spurned the opportunity to break the deadlock before Dykes did.
As quoted by Glasgow World, Davies said of Roberts: “Patrick Roberts puts a really nice ball in and I’m really pleased for Lyndon to have that moment. It was a really good header.”
With Davies well aware of the qualities Roberts possesses following their time at Celtic together, the Blues boss surely must give the Sunderland fan-favourite his second Birmingham start at Coventry.