Goal drought and 'inexcusable' mistake blight Birmingham City loan as class starts to show

Three years ago Tyler Roberts was a Premier League player who was preparing to represent his country in the November internationals.

Now 25, the 20-cap Wales international is trying to rebuild his career away from parent club Birmingham City after two injury-hit seasons. Roberts arrived at Blues in the summer of 2023 with ideas of becoming an integral part of a team that challenged for promotion to the Premier League.

The opposite happened. Roberts struggled to stay fit and Blues’ 2023/24 campaign ended in relegation to League One.

Blues boss Chris Davies couldn’t find room for Roberts – a player with 50 Premier League appearances to his name – in his new-look squad and a loan move to divisional rivals Northampton Town was sealed on deadline day in August.

READ: Our writers agree on Blues XI for Northampton as two changes made

READ: The FA criticise Birmingham City and list six reasons for tripling fine

By the time Roberts returns to Blues at the end of his season-long loan, the club could be back in the Championship. The success of Roberts’ season at Sixfields will determine whether he joins Blues in the second tier – with them or with a new club.

Despite a slow start, Roberts has started to show his quality in recent games for the Cobblers. Northampton, who visit St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park this weekend, are 18th in League One but they have secured seven points from their last four matches.

Roberts has started the last two of those against Crawley Town and Lincoln City. During Northampton’s last League One fixture at Lincoln, Roberts registered his first assist of the season with a cute cut-back for Tariqe Fosu before being sent off for two yellow cards.

Northampton manager Jon Brady sympathised with Roberts’ first booking at Sincil Bank but he labelled the second ‘inexcusable’ after the forward punched the ball away in frustration after it had gone out of play.

Brady said: “Earlier on in that first half when Tyler goes in and gets his first yellow card, he goes in with his shoulder in a duel that they’re both going 50/50 for, and the ref books him and gives him a yellow card, I can’t fathom how that is a yellow card.

“When the ball’s just out of play here, that’s inexcusable. Alright the first one is unjust, but that’s a yellow card. You can’t do that. You’re a professional footballer, we’re away from home and we need him on the pitch.”

Roberts served his suspension as Northampton were dumped out of the FA Cup by Kettering Town on Saturday before returning to their line-up against Leicester City under-21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy on Tuesday. The Blues loanee had a hand in two of Northampton’s three goals on the night.

Whilst the wait for a goal of his own goes on – Roberts hasn’t scored a competitive goal since January 2023 – he is at least getting regular football with Northampton.

Do you think Roberts has a future at Blues? Have your say in the comments HERE

Get the latest Blues headlines sent straight to your phone

BirminghamLive has its very own Birmingham City WhatsApp community to deliver the latest headlines straight to your phone. Just click this link to receive daily Blues content and breaking news. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. Click on the name at the top of your screen while in WhatsApp and click 'Exit Group'. Read our Privacy Notice.