Celtic assistant manager John Collins believes Patrick Roberts should set his sights on emulating Lionel Messi after starring in his side's 3-1 win over Hearts.

The on-loan Manchester City winger scored twice as Celtic took another step towards the league title on Saturday and the first of his goals, a dinked finish over Neil Alexander, was described as "Messi-esque" by former Celtic boss Neil Lennon.

Collins acknowledged that he could see why the comparison had been drawn and urged Roberts to work on delivering similar performances on a regular basis to fulfil his obvious potential.

"I don't like comparing him to the best player in the world, which in my opinion is Messi," Collins said. "But you can see where people get the resemblances.

"He is left-footed. He likes to take people on and if he ends up half as good as Messi then he has done well.

"That has got to be his target, to try to emulate what Lionel Messi does week-in, week-out, which is score goals, create chances.

Roberts, who moved to City from Fulham last year in a deal believed to total over £10m, is on loan at Celtic for the remainder of this season and all of next. Collins outlined the qualities he sees the 19-year-old as possessing.

"He is one of those players who gets you on the edge of your seat," he explained. "When he gets the ball the first thing in his mind is can he take on a defender.

"He is a type of player I like watching. At the end of the day you have to have an end product and at the weekend he had what we are looking for from wide players, beating players and getting shots on target and finishing off with goals.

"The most important thing is continual progress.

"He has to produce week in week out, that's what top players do."

While praising one winger, Collins confirmed the end of Derk Boerrigter's Celtic career.

The Dutchman had arrived at Parkhead from Ajax in 2013 but failed to make any impression at the club during his time in Glasgow. Celtic have now agreed an early termination of Boerrigter's contract, drawing a line under his time at the club.

Collins said that the attacker had been given chances to win a first team place but hadn't taken them while others had earned starting spots.

"We try to keep everyone involved and everyone gets an opportunity and when you get an opportunity you have to take it, that's football the world over," he said.

"We wish him all the best for the future.

"Sometimes it doesn't work out and unfortunately for Derk and for us it never worked out for him."