Tyler Roberts has left Leeds United this summer to join Championship rivals Birmingham City, after a difficult loan at QPR last season – and he has told Birmingham Live why he decided to exit, in what is the next chapter of his career.
Roberts, 24, ended a five-and-a-half-year spell on the books at Elland Road. Up and down, and marred by injury, the Wales international managed just 108 outings for Leeds in the Championship and Premier League. Just nine goals.
Last season, he was loaned to QPR by Jesse Marsch. But again, injury hampered his time at Loftus Road – managing just 20 games and scoring four goals. Injury prevented Roberts from travelling to Qatar with Rob Page’s Wales side.
He had a year left on his Leeds deal but Birmingham have landed the attacker, for a fee less than £500,000 – as per Birmingham Live writer Alex Dicken. In an interview with Dicken, Roberts explains why he decided to leave Leeds.
“I was a big part of the Leeds team, even in the Premier League, but I want to be an even bigger part, which is something I have spoken to the gaffer about. I need to keep fit and healthy, bring my experiences,” Roberts said.
“There’s a lot of young players so I need to help them, which is mad because not that long ago I was a young player. I want to help them and push everybody on to get to the same places we were with Leeds a couple of years ago.”
Tyler Roberts explains why he decided to leave Leeds for Birmingham
His explanation will not come as a surprise. Roberts had little future at Leeds and needed a move to kickstart his career. A move to a club like Birmingham where he should be first choice, if he remains fit, suits him down to a tee.
Not only, because it seems him return closer to his birthplace in Gloucester. But Roberts will be a larger fish, in a smaller pond at Birmingham. It will help him get back to his best – but only if, and it is a big if, Roberts can stay fit.
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