The 24-year-old £250,000 signing from Ipswich is already targeting a victory in the opening League I fixture against Stockport County.

And the following day his wife Rebecca is due to give birth to their first child!

“These are really exciting times for me both on and off the field,” said Liverpudlian Roberts.

“Hopefully everything will go well with the new baby and we’ll beat Stockport so it can be a double celebration on the first weekend.

“That would be great because everything feels good right now.

“I know I’m dropping down a division, but I expect it to be for only one season and my ambition is to get back into the Championship at the first attempt. I didn’t need any persuading to come here because the manager really sold the club and his plans to me in a big way.

“He’s very passionate, very ambitious and I think he will really help me at this stage of my career, when I want to play a lot of games and be part of a very successful season.”

Roberts is most likely to take the ‘Danny Schofield’ role on the left of midfield and he is determined to make an impact after scoring two goals and setting up four more in pre-season at Portman Road.

“The gaffer wants me to get at people and commit defenders, and that’s the way I like to play – with a bit of flair,” he explained.

“We’ve got good strikers here who I’m sure will appreciate some good service, but I also like to get a few goals myself by playing off the frontmen.

“From what the manager has said about the way he wants to play I think I’m going to enjoy myself and I know he’ll get the best out of me. He’s a great motivator, believes a lot in team spirit and I want to buy into that and work my socks off to do well.

“The gaffer asked me when I was signing the contract whether I remembered the feeling of lifting a trophy – I won the Conference to take Accrington into the League – and I told him it was the best experience in the world.

“He’s keen to replicate that here, with League I at the forefront, and I can’t wait to get cracking.”

Town were playing Accrington in a behind-closed-doors friendly today.

Sheffield United, who visit the Galpharm on Saturday (noon), beat Bury 2-1 last night.