Aberdeen have brought in one of the most technically-gifted players at the club in Callum Roberts, according to a man who’s watched him more than most.
Roberts has signed a three-year deal with the Dons after moving to Pittodrie in a £100,000 deal from County on Monday.
And Notts County director Paul Mace, who watched the 25-year-old former Newcastle United youngster score 16 goals for the club in the National League last season, agrees Roberts will make a huge impact at Pittodrie.
The Magpie Circle podcast host said: “Cal is a very decent player and I would be surprised if your supporters would not immediately say he is one of the most technically-gifted players they have at the club.
“I’m guessing some Aberdeen fans will be saying: ‘oh crikey, we’ve signed someone from the National League’, but Cal was in the Newcastle academy from a young age up to 21.
“He played briefly in the first team and what you have signed is someone who has been schooled in the Premier League for 80% of his career.”
An unstoppable threat from the right wing
Roberts’ performances for County quickly made him a fan favourite at Meadow Lane and Mace insists the same qualities will ensure he has the same effect at Aberdeen.
He said: “He is one of those players that everybody in the ground knows what he is going to do, but trying to stop him doing that is another matter.
“He’ll do a jink, drop inside, find a yard and unleash a curled shot into the bottom or top corner.
“Like many when they are cut from their Premier League club, it can be a challenge for them, and Cal had a very short stint with his mates at Blyth before ending up with us.
“Like all left-footed players, he is a stylish player. You do not see a cumbersome left-footer.
“The balance, the poise, the centre of gravity, he has them in abundance.
“He is a left-footed and will play where the manager wants him to, but his preferred position is to be on the right hand side where he can cut in.”
Quality was evident from day one
With 16 goals in 36 appearances for the Magpies last season, Roberts, who was in the final year of his contract at County, will be a huge loss to the club.
But Mace was not surprised to see the Dons make their move after the player’s impressive displays.
Mace said: “He was signed after we were relegated to the National League and came in during the latter part of the season where we reached the play-off final and did extremely well.
“We were wondering how on earth we had got him.
“It was clear as soon as we signed him in terms of technique, ability and skill he was several levels above National League level.
“In his first three months with us, everybody said he was by a million miles the best player in the National League.
“He scored in the play-off final against Harrogate, which we lost, and then had a series of injury problems in the second season.
“The club struggled to diagnose the issue and he kept breaking down, so it was largely a wasted season for him.
“But last season it was clear those issues were behind him as he was involved in 80% of the games.”
Richardson + Roberts = pace
Roberts’ move to Pittodrie means he will be reunited with full-back Jayden Richardson.
The duo combined to great effect during Nottingham Forest loanee Richardson’s time at Meadow Lane last season and Mace believes the two players can carry on where they left off now they’re both in Jim Goodwin’s side.
He said: “Cal will know at least one player in Jayden, who played with him down the right side last season.
“Forest have a very impressive academy and Jayden is what my era would call greased lightning. You will have a lot of pace if they play on the same flank together at the same time.
“With Cal you will have a very high, technical level. His record is not one goal in two games, but it is better than one in three.
“If the ball drops in the box and you want someone to take a touch and shoot or hit it first time, he is the man.”
Meadow Lane and Pittodrie a well-travelled path for players
The Dons have signed two players with County connections this summer, but the route from Meadow Lane to Pittodrie is a well-travelled one as Mace knows only too well.
He said: “The most famous one, and there are some comparisons to be drawn between Callum and this guy, is Ian Scanlon, who was one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s early Aberdeen signings.
“Cal is a tricky winger who cuts inside. He is not Ian Scanlon mk2, but there are similarities in how he plays the game.
“He appeared on my podcast and discussed growing up in Newcastle, the challenges he faced when he was released, swapping shirts in a game he played for Newcastle with Kevin De Bruyne and turning down Panathinaikos after he was released.
“He didn’t fancy it at that time, but went on to sign for Blyth Spartans three months later before joining us.
“Cal is an interesting character and I’m sure he will do well after making this move.”
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