 He played a key part in the club's FA Youth Cup team which reached the semi-finals in 2004.However, he missed much of the 2004–05 season with a serious knee injury, only returning to first team action for games against Sheffield United and West Ham United in March 2005.Roberts established himself in the Crewe first team in the 2005–06 season, making 33 Championship appearances and scoring two goals – against Millwall and Hull City.