Exclusive:Celtic hero reveals Rangers advice he gave to teammate and names 'unbelievable' Parkhead man he rates highest

Roberts, 29, spoke exclusively to The Scotsman about his time in Glasgow, where he became a fan favourite during his two-and-a-half seasons at the club, winning three league titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups following his move from Manchester City.

Later signing for Sunderland, the former Celtic man played a major role in the Black Cats’ rise from the third tier of English football to the Premier League, where he was captained by Rangers new boy Dan Neil. Speaking about the pressure cooker that exists within the Glasgow goldfish bowl, Roberts confirmed that his ex-Sunderland teammate had asked for his advice before penning a three-year deal at Ibrox earlier this summer.

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“I had this conversation not long ago when Dan Neil called me,” said Roberts. “He wanted my opinion the Scottish league, and the city, because it was a similar situation to when I went. I had it very easy. I told him ‘you have to win games’, then you get the luxury of going out, and you get more confidence and more belief. It can make you feel like you’re an absolute superstar when you’re performing well [at Celtic].

“But when you’re on the other end...I didn’t get it a lot, and the Celtic players didn’t get it a lot. We didn’t lose a game in that whole season. Rangers fans couldn’t really say anything to you because they had nothing to back it up. But I can see it would be tough if you’re on the other side. I played with Waggy [Martyn Waghorn] at Derby, and it was quite tough for him, and quite a few of the Rangers players.

“It’s part and parcel of the game, and it’s not nice to see because you’d hate it if it was you, but at the same time, it is how fans are. Especially in Glasgow. It’s all about football, it is life or death up there. I was on the good side of it, and I used to enjoy going out in the city. Everyone I met was either a Celtic fan, or a Rangers fan who didn’t bother to say anything.

“It didn’t bother me. If I went out you’d be asked for photos, and sometimes you just wanted to go to the cinema or go shopping! But I quite enjoyed it, I was young and you enjoy that feeling of being liked by fans. It is tough up there. It was bad for the other side then, but thankfully not for us.”

Staying on the subject of former teammates, Roberts also opened up on the close bond he shared with current Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney, who returned to the club from Arsenal a year ago. The pair became close friends during his days in the east end of Glasgow, and the Birmingham City man detailed his importance in the Parkhead dressing room, even when he was still just a teenager.

“Myself and Kieran sat next to each other in the changing room,” said Roberts. “We were both the same age, he had my sense of humour and we got on really well. We’d go and do stuff together. I’d go round to his house and his Mum would make me square sausages. We just really got on. We were young boys who enjoyed playing for Celtic, it was great.

“I went to see him when he moved to Arsenal, because I’m a London boy and I know what it is like to live there. He helped me so much up here, so I wanted to return the favour. He’s a great lad, gives 100 per cent all the time and he had the quality to back it up. He’s back at Celtic and enjoyed it. It’s good to see him back, and to see them winning again.”

Asked who was the most talented player he shared a dressing room with at Celtic, Roberts was forced into a long pause to gather his thoughts before centring on two players he described as “unbelievable” and pivotal to Celtic’s success during his time at the club.

"Tough question," smiled Roberts. "There's so many players. But there's one player that I played with at Fulham, and he followed me to Celtic - Moussa Dembele, he was unbelievable. I was there with Odsonne Edouard, but I obviously left and then he had his few years where he was incredible, and maybe he was better than Moussa? Who knows. But the time that I was there with Moussa, he was a goal-machine.

“I knew him at Fulham, he used to drive me to training as a kid because he lived close. When I was at Celtic, he followed me there. Which was a crazy moment, because I knew him so well at Fulham. So I knew what he was about, I knew what he could, how many late goals he could score, the standard of goals he could score. I have to give a shout out to Tom Rogic as well. He goes underrated a little, but he was technically unbelievable. Those two, Browny, Kieran, McGregor - they give their hearts and soul to Celtic, but Moussa or Tom just edge it.”