Tyler Roberts joined Birmingham City on a four-year contract from Leeds United last summer.
Tyler Roberts joined Birmingham City last summer with the goal of being a force in a club that would compete for promotion to the Premier League.
Roberts, who had been a supporting player in Leeds United’s ascension to the top tier under Marcelo Bielsa, aspired to play a more prominent role. Not for the first time in his career, injuries denied him the opportunity.
Roberts played only 19 games in his debut season at St Andrew’s, missing the first part of the season due to a calf injury. Eight years after beginning his professional career, Roberts has only played more than 30 club games in a single season three times.
The forward’s durability remains an issue for him. When Tony Mowbray and Gary Rowett inserted Roberts into the starting lineup last season, the results were largely positive.
In the week before Mowbray stepped down, he was impressive in victories over Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland, and he was brilliant in the Blues’ 3-0 win over Coventry City. That Coventry game should have served as a springboard for Roberts, but, as is customary, a niggle arose in the run-up to the Rotherham game, and despite his best efforts, it hampered his performance.
During the win over Coventry, Roberts displayed Premier League-caliber swagger and quality. The pass that set up the Blues’ opening goal was excellent, as was Jay Stansfield’s game-winning third goal.
Players with such talent should not be in League One, but due to a terrible recent injury record, Roberts may have to swallow the bitter pill and return to the level at which he flourished when he was 18. Based on Roberts’ performance over the last two seasons, it’s difficult to imagine Championship clubs lining up to sign him.
League One football is not what a 25-year-old footballer with 50 Premier League games and 20 international caps would choose. However, it may give Roberts the opportunity to reestablish his career and confidence after a difficult two years.
