Mercurial Patrick Roberts was the player all of the big clubs wanted as a youngster.
Now, at just 25-years-old, he’s the man who can’t even make an impact in League One.
The old joke about being able to do it on a cold, rainy night in Stoke took on a slightly different meaning for Roberts.
He wasn’t in Stoke but was up against them on Monday night for Sunderland. But it wasn’t even the Potters first team but the second string.
And the answer was that he couldn’t do it as he was hooked for the Black Cats second string in a 3-0 loss in the Premier League 2 fixture.
It’s been a spectacular fall from grace for the player who showed so much promise, certainly during his first loan spell, while on loan at Celtic from Manchester City.
City splashed out £11 million for the man nicknamed "Mini Messi" in the Fulham ranks and described as “extraordinary” by Felix Magath who handed him his Premier League debut.
Brendan Rodgers got the best out of him with the player scoring against his parent club at the Etihad during a Champions League clash.
But five loan moves on from his time at Parkhead and he finds himself out of the first team picture under Alex Neil who recently took over at the Stadium of Light.
Here, Record Sport Online looks at what has been said by managers during his loan spells in as his career has gone on a downward spiral.
Girona
His first stop after the east end of Glasgow was the Spanish outfit as City used their links with Girona.
But he was hardly used, making just six starts in 19 appearances with his loan eventually cut short.
When asked in April 2019 if his loan would be extended, head coach Eusebio Sacristan on said: “Patrick Roberts isn't in the squad.
“There are other players in the team I believe that are better and there's no point entering into further details.” Ouch!
Norwich City
Another loan move that was cut short, this time abruptly, after just three top flight substitute appearances for the Canaries.
Then boss Daniel Farke said: "He wasn't happy with his game time, so it was best to use January to allow this move.
“When you bring in a player you can't always guarantee they'll play minutes. We had honest talks with Patrick but there was no problem.”
Middlesbrough
The winger was allowed to leave Carrow Road in the January window with interest from Teeside but it proved a dreadful half-season the Riverside.
Neil Warnock couldn’t give him the game time he wanted as Roberts simply failed to impress and it was again a loan spell cut short.
He started just five games in total, and was often left an unused substitute. Warnock said: “I apologised to him for it not working out.
“I just couldn’t get him into the team in a position where I felt that we didn’t have a better alternative.
“We tried it on two or three occasions and it just never quite came off.”
Derby County
After his loan spell was over on Teeside, Roberts moved to the Rams and yet again the move didn’t provide the career spark he needed.
It wasn’t until the final day he produced a sprinkling of magic with a vital goal in a 3-3 draw against Sheffield Wednesday - his first in almost a year! - as Derby beat relegation.
Boss Wayne Rooney said later: “I spoke to him (Patrick Roberts) this morning. We were having breakfast and I went over and said to Patrick: ‘You haven’t scored a goal all season, so today cut inside on your left foot and whip it in the top corner!”
Troyes
A change of country but no change in fortunes as France proved a miserable time with just two appearances.
His loan deal was terminated, allowing him to make the move to Sunderland where he has finally moved permanently but things haven’t changed.
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