Antonee Robinson: In-form Fulham star heading in the right direction to develop into one of many Premier League’s finest left-backs | Soccer information

In a league the place conversations are sometimes dominated by the title race and scoring targets is commonly seen as the primary path to success, defenders can simply go unnoticed.

Nonetheless, it has been a transformative season for left again Antonee Robinson. A state of affairs that many merely can not ignore.

As he enters the media room, Robinson greets the workforce with a heat smile and needs everybody a Comfortable New Yr. It is a small second that displays his down-to-earth perspective, however his affect on the sphere has been something however modest.

Sunday January 5 at 1:00 p.m.

Kick-off at 2:00 p.m.

His mixture of velocity, defensive resilience and offensive contribution has made him one of the crucial constant full-backs this season.

By his personal admission, Robinson acknowledges the eye his performances have garnered, though it isn’t a topic he dwells on an excessive amount of.

“It is good, I suppose, however I attempt to not focus an excessive amount of on it as a result of on the finish of the day it is soccer,” Robinson stated forward of Fulham’s conflict with Ipswich. stay on Sky Sports activities this Sunday.

“I may have two dangerous video games in a row, and folks would say, ‘I at all times knew he was c**p’, and issues like that,” he instructed Sky Sports activities, totally conscious of the unpredictable nature of soccer.

“You by no means know the way it’s going to go, so I simply love to do nicely, I like that the workforce is doing very well and that I’m contributing.”

Reluctant to just accept an excessive amount of credit score for his efficiency, the statistics converse for themselves, nevertheless. No defender has offered extra assists within the Premier League than Robinson. With seven assists in 19 video games, he stays behind Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka in soccer’s elite.

For reference, final season was a great season for the full-back, who had six assists in 37 video games in all competitions. He has already exceeded this determine midway via the season.

His tenacity and a spotlight to element are evident. Creating his sport administration and resolution making has been the primary space of ​​focus.

“Within the closing third, when I can put crosses in, I attempt to form of decelerate in my head and ensure I am choosing somebody out or making the precise resolution, aiming for the precise one. I gradual it down slightly bit in my very own head,” Robinson continues to clarify.

“It in all probability nonetheless appears quick, but it surely offers me slightly readability as to the place I must put the ball.”

Robinson, often a personal individual, offers a quick overview of the affect supervisor Marco Silva had on him.

“I’ve talked so much about feeling like he is personally helped me develop and I commend him so much for that,” he smiles as he continues so as to add.

“However when it comes to the workforce, we have form of had our beliefs, our enjoying philosophy since he took over the Championship and he is stayed true to that.”

Equally, when requested about Robinson throughout his pre-match press convention, Silva spoke enthusiastically concerning the participant he has recognized for nearly a decade.

“I’ve recognized him for a very long time, he was a payer at Everton after I labored there and now I can work with him once more right here at Fulham.” » says Silva, as he speaks to the media forward of Sunday’s match towards Ipswich.

“He is much more mature, he is not emotional through the match. Most of you do not know him personally however he is very emotional and he is a relaxed individual, however his sport is much more balanced now and way more mature if I’ll say so.

“Now when he has a great or dangerous motion it will not have a lot affect on him, he takes just a few steps as a defender and he turns into strong. We labored with him, we demanded of him and We gave him confidence.”

With the assist of his supervisor and no indicators of slowing down, it is no shock that the 27-year-old American can also be one of the crucial common picks amongst Fantasy Premier League followers.

With 25.2 p.c of all customers opting it into their workforce. The truth is, he’s Fulham’s most regularly capped participant, a element that makes him smile when listening to it and which he would definitely share together with his teammates.

“It is fairly good,” Robinson laughs, “I have never accomplished a fantasy for about 5 years now as a result of I’ve at all times made one or I used to. And I will have every week the place I might miss altering groups and doing dangerous issues after which I am like, I am not going to fret about that now.”

Leaning again in his chair, Robinson laughs as he shares tales about how his social media is stuffed with followers asking him to attain a objective or two. Though he generally finds the interactions amusing, his directions are clear.

“Do not ship me any messages about FPL. It will not have an effect on my sport.”

Like many different footballers, Robinson’s rise has been formed by accidents, loans and occasions on the bench. It’s subsequently not shocking that regardless of the opening of the January switch window, he relishes these moments and doesn’t enable himself to be drawn into hypothesis about his future.

“Everybody that I play with and watches me play is aware of that I’m 100% dedicated to the workforce. I give every little thing each week to attempt to assist us get to the extent the place I believe we needs to be and the place we need to do it. So there isn’t any discrimination. It is at all times about placing 100% effort into each match.”

Few issues in soccer final endlessly, nevertheless, Fulham followers can take consolation in understanding that there aren’t any imminent plans for his departure from the west London membership. As a substitute, Robinson insists his workforce nonetheless wants to achieve increased ranges.

Since Silva’s facet had been promoted to the highest flight of English soccer in 2022, they’ve been a comparatively constant mid-table facet, distancing themselves from their earlier yo-yo pattern.

It was the identical season that noticed them end tenth within the Championship with 52 factors, only one level shy of their highest league end within the 2009/10 season.

“The gaffer actually makes it his obligation to attempt to break information, to attempt to make historical past,” says Robinson.

“At any time when there’s a sport the place there’s a chance to do one thing we’ve by no means accomplished earlier than, he at all times mentions it to us.”

All he has to do is look again to Boxing Day, when Fulham claimed their first away win at Chelsea since 1979.

“The Stamford Bridge sport is an efficient instance of that. The speech he gave us earlier than the sport. We’ve not gained there for 45 years. We managed to do it. We managed to do it .

“We solely had one level much less in our first Premier League season to match the factors whole and we got here tenth. And with the standard of the league this season and the place we’re, what number of factors will we “We have now, it is an actual testomony as a result of all of the groups are in the midst of the pack, they’re round ninth place, so we’ll occupy a European place if we get there.”

As Fulham put together to increase their seven-game unbeaten run into the brand new 12 months. Robinson shares the collective ambition felt by many on the membership.

“Nobody will give us video games. We should earn each level,” he stated.

“Within the second half of the season, let’s attempt to enhance our factors whole from the primary half. Enhance the standings and hopefully a run within the FA Cup as nicely.”

In footballing phrases, his youthful years could also be behind him, however Robinson is flourishing and believes he has way more to supply.

“I nonetheless see my sport bettering and I consider there may be potential to proceed to enhance, and I hope that’s the case,” he stated.

“In fact I am pleased with the extent I am at proper now, however I at all times intention excessive and take no matter comes my means.”