Birmingham City defender reveals 'long-term' plan following deadline day transfer

Mitch Roberts is aiming to "smash it" on loan at Carlisle United for the rest of the season and use the experience to break into the Birmingham City first team when he returns.

The 21-year-old was a product of the academy after joining as a ten-year old in 2011. Despite injuries hindering his early career, he has continued to develop and even grabbed the attention of Manchester City and Celtic in 2019.

Roberts made his first team debut for Blues last August, starting in the 2-0 defeat to Fulham in the EFL Cup second round. he made his Championship debut in November in the 2-1 defeat to Reading.

This is the second loan spell of his career having joined Harrogate Town last January and Roberts is hoping this one takes him to the next level in terms of his development.

“I’m just taking it all in at the moment and it’s been good to meet the lads and everyone around the building,” he told Carlisle's official club website.

“You’ve got to take it all in your stride, it’s football, things happen fast and I’m looking forward to getting on with training and taking it from there.

“The message from my coaches is for me to get here and smash it, basically. It’s only going to benefit everybody if I come here and do well and play games. The main aim now is to play games, win matches and do as well as I can.

“Birmingham is obviously my club, I’ve been there since I was 11, so it would be easy for me to be comfortable in and around where I live and stuff like that, but speaking to the gaffer I knew it was a no-brainer to come here.

“At the age I am now I need to get games and get some good football under my belt. I think I’m ready to play men’s football now, I had a little loan spell last season, and I’m excited to get going here.”

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