Patrick Roberts is flourishing during his loan spell at Birmingham City, with the winger revealing the key reasons behind his summer switch from Sunderland and his thoughts on what comes next.
The Driving Forces Behind the Move
The 28-year-old attacker joined Blues on deadline day in the summer transfer window, and his impact has been immediate. In 13 league appearances so far, Roberts has contributed a goal and three assists, showcasing the form that helped Sunderland win promotion to the Premier League last May.
Roberts has now explained that two primary factors motivated his desire to move to St Andrew's: geography and the presence of manager Chris Davies. "I'm obviously from London and I wanted to be closer to London," Roberts stated after Monday night's victory over Watford.
He added that the deal took time because Sunderland were initially uncertain, but he was determined to wait for Birmingham. His existing relationship with Davies, forged when the pair were at Celtic, was pivotal. "I knew Chris from Celtic and how good a man he was so I was waiting for that and I'm glad I did," Roberts said.
From 'Chris' to 'Gaffer': The Davies Dynamic
Roberts reflected on Davies's transition from assistant manager to the top job, noting that many coaches change when they take charge. He praised Davies for retaining his core personality while embracing the leadership role.
"He's still a great guy, I can still go and talk to him and have a chat with him, like I did when I was younger," Roberts explained. "I called him Chris 10 years ago, now it's just Gaffer!"
While Davies was the best reference, Roberts also had other connections to the club. He enjoyed a positive relationship with former Blues boss Tony Mowbray at Sunderland, and multiple coaches have moved between the two clubs in recent years.
The Jobe Bellingham Influence
Another significant voice in Roberts's ear was young midfielder Jobe Bellingham, who came through Birmingham's academy before making his name alongside Roberts at the Stadium of Light.
"I played two years with Jobe and he was non-stop talking about Birmingham!" Roberts revealed. "I knew of Birmingham and everyone has great things to say about Birmingham."
Roberts was ultimately convinced by the club's ambition, drawing parallels with the project he joined at Sunderland. "Birmingham want to be on that same line. It's an ambitious club on the up and I'm an ambitious player so it was a no-brainer to come here."
An Uncertain Future Beyond This Season
The immediate future, however, remains unclear. Roberts's deal is only a season-long loan, and his Sunderland contract expires next summer, though the Black Cats hold an option to extend it by a further 12 months. Sunderland's farewell message to him in September had a tone of finality.
Asked about his plans, Roberts adopted a philosophical stance. "I don't think too much into it. I'll give my all to Birmingham to achieve the objectives they want to achieve and what will be will be," he said. "I just enjoy playing football and I'm lucky enough to still be playing football. What will be will be."
His performances are making a compelling case for Birmingham to pursue a permanent deal, leaving fans and club officials with a big decision to make in the coming months.
