Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou was right to reject the chance to re-sign Patrick Roberts for the Hoops.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Peter Grant, with the former Celtic midfielder stating his belief in a recent interview with GO Radio (via Football Scotland) that, following a report which claimed that the 56-year-old turned down the opportunity to bring the winger back to Parkhead last summer, Postecoglou made the right call on the 25-year-old, as Liel Abada offers more than the former Manchester City forward.

Concerning Roberts, Grant said: “I had Pat as a young man at Fulham. He was a terrific young player. There are things in his game that I feel he’s not improved enough and I can see why Ange probably wouldn’t take him back – because it’s more about the team ethic at this moment in time.

“Young Abada’s gone in and done terrifically well. He’s more productive in terms of goals and he’s probably looked at that. It’s easy to say somebody’s got the talent, and Pat’s no doubt got that. I think it was £10m we sold him to Manchester City for.

“But the thing for us was that Pat needed to go out and play. Was he going to play at Manchester City? No, I don’t think that was going to be the case but the loan process was going to work fantastically well for him. He’s a Celtic-type of player but do they need him at this time? I think Ange has made the right call to be perfectly honest.”

Ange hit the jackpot on Roberts

As Grant suggests, Postecoglou’s decision to sanction the £3.4m signing of Abada ahead of making a move for Roberts very much looks to be a call which saw the Cektuc manager hit the jackpot, as the two players’ careers could not be heading in more contrasting directions.

Indeed, after being rejected by the Hoops, the £1.35m-rated Roberts was shipped out on loan to Ligue 1 side Troyes, where he made just two appearances before returning to Manchester City in January.

Subsequently, the 25-year-old was given the green light to join English League One side Sunderland on a free transfer – a fry cry from his £11m move to City back in 2015. At the Stadium of Light, the former England under-20 international, who was previously nicknamed the “mini Messi”, has struggled once again, so far having made nine appearances for the Black Cats and scored just one goal.

In contrast, since Abada’s move to Parkhead last summer, the £4.05m-rated sensation has scored 14 goals and registered 11 assists over his 48 appearances in all competitions. That form has already seen the Israel under-21 international linked with a summer switch to Crystal Palace.

As such, it is clear to see that Postecoglou made the right call on both Roberts and Abada, as it seems as if the former may well be a player who fails to ever go on to reach his potential.

AND in other news: Ange must now seal Celtic deal for “magic” £21.5k-p/w ace, he’s an “absolute dream”