Scott Sinclair’s hamstring strain looks like opening up a space in Celtic’s Betfred Cup Final side to Patrick Roberts.
The on loan Manchester City kid has cut a frustrated figure in recent times but looks set to be given his big chance at Hampden on Sunday.
Roberts has been in and out the team, and form, in recent weeks but turned in impressive displays away to Ross County and Borussia Monchengladbach in a 30 minute substitute appearance.
Hampden on Sunday gives the hoops the chance to claim some silverware to underline their early season dominance with an autumn final appealing to Roberts.
“It seems a bit weird to be getting the chance of a trophy in November, not that we’re complaining,” he told the Evening Times. “It is a great chance to go out and put a foot in the right direction.
“Aberdeen will look to make it difficult for us but it would be nice to go there and win it. It is a great day for us and a great day for the fans and hopefully we can go and get the result that we want.
“We have had a bit of time to prepare for it and get ourselves into the right frame of mind. The manager will have us well organised and there’s no way we’ll still be thinking about the Champions League.”
Hampden’s ‘wide open spaces’ could be made for Roberts and James Forrest as Brendan Rodgers chases the first major trophy of his managerial career.
In recent seasons the National Stadium has become a bogey ground for the hoops with Neil Lennon and Ronny Deila suffering the worst defeats of their careers in Mount Florida.
Celtic’s emphatic semi-final win over Sevco in the semi-final would suggest that they have overcome that issue but only a trophy success on Sunday will satisfy the ambitious Irishman in the dug out.
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