RONNY DEILA singled out two-goal Patrick Roberts for praise after Celtic’s vital 3-1 victory over Hearts at Parkhead.
The English Under-21 winger claimed his first trikes for the Hoops since arriving on loan from Manchester City at the turn of the year.
Deila said: “He had the ball six or seven times and scored two goals. So, if we can feed him 20 times, it will be very hard for the opponents.
“He is special and that’s why he’s at Manchester City.”
Roberts, starting only his second game, underlined why the big-money Premier League outfit shelled out £12million to take him from Fulham last season.
Afterwards he said: “We knew they would tough opponents and I just wanted to do my best. I was playing for the badge.”
The win extended Celtic’s lead over Aberdeen, who play Hamilton Accies tomorrow, at the top of the league to seven points.
Deila added: “Everything is in our own hands – seven games left and we are really going to fight to the end.
“There are things we want to get better, but we have to give credit to Hearts, as well. They were really up for the game, they were prepared and they started very well and got an early goal.
“But I think it shows team spirit when you change things around and win 3-1 in the end.
“I think we started slow and we had to get up to the tempo Hearts were putting into it, but we got better and better during the game and, in the second-half, we controlled it quite well.
“The winning is everything in this game and, when you’re winning, you get more and more confidence and you build up momentum, so that’s what we want to keep on doing.”
