Connor Roberts has become Burnley’s fourth summer signing, arriving from Swansea City on a four-year-deal.

The right back – who scored once for Wales at the 2020 European Championship in the summer – came through The Swans academy to make 152 appearances for the club.

The Clarets were interested in a deal for Roberts but an injury derailed the plans before going back in for him in the final few days of the transfer window.

Of those 152 appearances, four have already come in the Premier League when he appeared for The Swans in 2018.

Last season, he featured in some capacity in every game in the Championship last season and in all four of his country’s games at the Euros in the summer, and has 30 caps in total so far.  

Over his time, he scored 11 goals and, according to Whoscored.com, he made an average of 1.8 key passes per game in his 46 appearances last campaign.

Roberts also featured in the Championship Play-off final, but was on the losing side as Brentford won promotion.

The 25-year-old scored in Wales’ 2-0 win over Turkey in the group stages in the summer before suffering the groin injury in the Round of 16 defeat to Denmark that has kept him out of the start of this season.

Embed from Getty Images

He is expected to be back fit after the September International break, but could take a bit of time to get back up to match speed.

  • Will he have an impact?

Of course he will, Sean Dychedoesn’t tend to buy players for the sake of it.

For almost two years, Clarets’ fans have been calling for added depth to the squad.

Roberts certainly adds to that depth and makes the second unit better initially and will one day take over from Matt Lowton as the number one choice on the right side of defence.

Defensively, he has it all.

He is strong in a tackle, quick on recovery which he compliments with excellent positioning and reading of the game.

This allows him to make a number of key interceptions, which is critical to starting counter attacks and getting the team further up the pitch faster.

Roberts excels at this and, with either Dwight McNeilor Maxwel Cornet streaking ahead of him from right midfield, it will allow Burnley to create more opportunities per game.

Embed from Getty Images

His delivery is good and, with physical forwards in the box, he should be able to create many chances from overlaps or from darting runs with the ball.

He isn’t afraid get forward or afraid of contact so can put himself about in the attacking positions to cause havoc for the opposition.

But, and probably most importantly, he is a young player.

Like other new arrival Nathan Collins, he has been extremely successful in the second tier and has earned himself many admirers.

His age will have contributed to that, as he hasn’t quite reached his peak.

Burnley have one of the oldest squads in the Premier League and needed to get younger players through the door.

Unlike Crystal Palace, the Lancashire side are doing it slowly and not overhauling the whole squad.

Embed from Getty Images

Whether that be financial constraints or the tactic from the management and Chairman, Alan Pace, it is certainly the right way to go.

By no means is it job done for Burnley, but Roberts is certainly a piece of the puzzle in place.

He wasn’t the Swansea Supporter’s Player of the Year last season for nothing.

  • Roberts said…

The new signing, who will wear the number 14, told the club’s website:

“Whenever you go to a new team, or play for a new team, you want to get out for that first game and put on the shirt and actually play football.

"And I can assure you every time I do, I will give absolutely everything.

“I won't be the best player on the pitch, but I’ll probably run more than anyone and give absolutely everything and hopefully I can be someone the Burnley fans are proud to have play for their team.”

  • When will he make his debut?

It is unknown how long Roberts will be out for, but there is some optimism that he can be back fit in time for the game at Everton on Monday, September 13.

It is likely to be before the next international break, however.

 

VAVEL Logo
About the author