Ok I don’t want to get too carried away here. One quite big game still to play on Sunday, Notts remember have achieved nothing yet… But cast mind back to late January when a young North East born winger signed for the club from Blyth Spartans where he had made a name in the National League North in just a six month spell.

Callum Roberts, a 22 year old winger at the time had scored 17 goals in 25 appearances for Blyth. Having just been released from Newcastle United in the summer of 2019, an England under 20 international, it was clear to see that the boy was far too good to be playing step six football for a part-time (all be it famous old) club.

Despite the goals record, despite the credentials of past promise, this was still a gamble for Notts all be it a relatively low budget one but despite us being only nine games into his County career, we might very well be seeing a superstar before our eyes. Certainly a gamble that has paid off.

A huge statement yes, but not since a young Jack Grealish, socks rolled down on one wing with Callum McGregor, jinking in and out on the other have we seen such a fine prospect at the club. Roberts really is that good, he just needs to be nurtured in the right way to fulfil his undeniable potential.

Roberts impressed in his County debut at Dagenham in a game Notts lost 2-0. Showing enough promise in his 67 minutes before being substituted, he did enough to make the starting XI for a live BT screening against local rivals Chesterfield on February 1^st at Meadow Lane.

Notts were at that time seventh in the table with a whole cluster of teams down to Dover in twelfth less than three points below them… A loss, unthinkable, a win would certainly state intent to those around them, and a win is what the Magpies got.

Roberts was superb in front of the cameras against Chesterfield as County won 3-0 in the rain and got his first assist for the club before a solid 90 minutes in the following league game, a 1-1 draw against Woking. At Hartlepool things weren’t so good but he helped Notts to a hard-earned win at Fylde before really kicking into play at league leaders Barrow.

Notts were fantastic at Barrow, the best team in the league at the top of the table, we all know the score but are happy to repeat 2-0, it was Notts best performance of the season and gave the team the incentive to re-invigorate their promotion push with serious belief… Since Barrow, in a game where Roberts scored a decisive and brilliant second goal, Notts have been brilliant… Callum Roberts himself, has been brilliant.

Two more matches post lockdown against Aldershot and Eastleigh and two more brilliant performances for Notts, two more goals for Roberts, a player in a rich vein of form and finding his feet fabulously.

Then came lockdown…. And as we seemed to forget about the brilliance of the South Shields born wingers existence over four depressing months of no football then came Saturday… And Roberts, the Geordie Messi back strutting his stuff again.

The goal Roberts scored on Saturday is one that only a few players can do, is one that you have to take seriously as a moment of individual brilliance, and the best thing is, it is not the first time he has done it.

Roberts has guile, craftsmanship, a silky player cutting in to shoot on that thunderous left foot, often threading the ball through an eye of a needle, delivering the perfect cross, dribbling inside and out like a young John Robertson from over the Trent 40 odd years ago.

His goal against Barrow started in a position where it was impossible to score from, his goal against Barnet almost a carbon copy, proof that it was no fluke.

Whether or not Roberts proves to be the Wembley matchwinner come Sunday afternoon I have no idea. Some would be hasten to add too much pressure on him, others would suggest it could be written in the stars.

I believe no matter the result and performance come Sunday against Harrogate that Cal Roberts will be a star that Notts County will do very well to hold and keep. An old fashioned once in a decade type of player that lifts bum off seats, one plucked from National North obscurity now with an eye on winning a Wembley final.

From deepest rock bottom being released by Newcastle to now being Notts County’s man of the moment, what a year it has been for Callum Roberts, what a career it could be, should he keep his feet on the ground and his hips wiggling past defenders.

*Main image @Official_NCFC Cal Roberts celebrates scoring his sensational goal against Barnet.