Patrick Roberts cost Manchester City £12 million when they signed him from Fulham in 2015.

He was a highly-rated 18-year-old, but while he has enjoyed success with Celtic, things have not exactly gone according to plan at parent club Manchester City.

And statistics that have come out today have revealed that, for all intents and purposes, Roberts is the most expensive waste of money when it comes to appearances, in the past three years.

Analysis of the signings made by Premier Leauge clubs over the past three seasons has shown that Roberts, at £12 million, is the most expensive player to have made five or fewer appearances for his club.

Roberts was a 55th minute substitute in a 4-1 League Cup win over Sunderland in 2015, before making his Premier League bow in the 86th minute of a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham four days later.

He was then handed 15 minutes in another League Cup tie - a 5-1 triumph over Crystal Palace - but that was the last the City fans saw of the Englishman.

Tussle: Fulham's Patrick Roberts in action with Manchester City's Pablo Zabaleta

He was shipped out on loan to Scottish giants Celtic, where he has remained ever since. And he has done pretty well in the top tier in Scotland, scoring 17 goals in a season and a half, including one in the Champions League...against Manchester City!

At 20 years old, he still has time on his side, to make it in the Premier League, but perhaps he is a good example of why young players should not make the move to the very top straight away.

With Roberts in their ranks, Manchester City were th worst offenders for expensive players not getting game time, having spent more than £30 million in total on 12 players who failed to register more than five appearances in three years.

Watford were guilty of spending just under £30 million, while Chelsea were third worst having spent £17 million.