Fulham attacking midfielder Tom Cairney has grabbed the headlines for all the right reasons this season, with the Scotland international potentially helping in returning Premier League football to Craven Cottage.

If the west London outfit do happen to fail in their play-off campaign then it's likely a top-flight club will come sniffing, and persuade the midfielder to pack his bags to leave the Cottagers.

In case that scenario does occur, then manager Slaviša Jokanović needs a replacement lined up and I can't think of anyone more perfect than youth graduate Patrick Roberts.

The £4.25 million-rated winger is one of the more recent youngsters to successfully fulfil their career from the renowned academy at Fulham, and he didn't last long in the capital before Manchester City snapped his services up two years ago.

Roberts hasn't had his way in the northern city which meant he was forced to move out on loan somewhere to develop further by getting more minutes on the pitch, subsequently agreeing an 18-month loan deal at Celtic in January 2016 - which expires this summer.

The England under-20 international has absolutely smashed the Premiership across the border with his twelve assists and seven goals, replicating the creative touch that earned him a move to the ex-Premier League champions.

Saying that, it seems unlikely Roberts will feature in the first-team at Man City on a regular occurrence next campaign.

That means he will need to search for a new club and I think Fulham should snatch him up if Tom Cairney leaves.

Whether the 2010 Europa League finalists be in the Championship or Premier League next year, Patrick Roberts will always give you the hope a goal will be scored if he's starting.

As well as that, he's a firm fan favourite at Fulham and he'll always be welcomed back to the team if Slaviša Jokanović went in for the swoop - the only off-putting attributes towards bringing Patrick Roberts back to Craven Cottage is his potential price tag.

Fulham supporters, do you think Tom Cairney will leave in the summer? Is Roberts the ideal replacement? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!