Birmingham City signed Patrick Roberts on loan from Premier League side Sunderland on transfer deadline day
Birmingham City reporter for BirminghamLive and the Birmingham Mail
Patrick Roberts celebrates with the trophy after Sunderland’s play-off final victory
The loan signing of Patrick Roberts was Birmingham City’s deadline day splash to end the 2025 summer window.
Roberts joined Blues on loan from Sunderland a few months after helping the Black Cats clinch promotion to the Premier League at Wembley.
The 28-year-old is a left-footed right-winger who should fit Chris Davies’ system like a glove.
Roberts’ numbers have never been off the charts in the Championship but he did enjoy two seasons at Sunderland where he recorded in excess of 10 goal contributions.
Imperatively, his availability record holds up too with Roberts having played 48 of the Black Cats’ 49 league games last term.
Blues have added another proven second tier player to their arsenal, but how will he fit in?
Right-wing has been a problem position for Blues in the opening weeks of the season. Demarai Gray started the campaign there before Davies realised he would be better suited on the left and made the change.
Willum Willumsson has provided the left-footed option in Blues’ last two games and Roberts will likely take over now.
The one obvious problem that brings to the make-up of Blues’ starting XI is height, or a lack of it. Willumsson is 6ft 4in, compared to 5ft 7in Roberts, and his absence from the starting XI would create a hole on defensive set pieces.
Davies usually starts at least three big players to defend zonally on set pieces so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Marvin Ducksch drafted in to correct the issue.
Ducksch is using the international break to get up to speed physically after playing two games in which he looked a way off due to being hampered by an injury in pre-season.
The 6ft 2in German appears to be the perfect foil for Jay Stansfield when both are fit and he would provide an additional presence to centre-backs Christoph Klarer and Phil Neumann.
Away from Roberts and Ducksch, Blues’ strongest XI isn’t likely to veer too far away from what we have seen thus far.
Blues’ new XI…
(4-2-3-1): Allsop; Osayi-Samuel, Neumann, Klarer, Cochrane; Iwata, Paik; Roberts, Ducksch, Gray; Stansfield
Do you like this XI? Let us know HERE