Robinson hoping fresh start for his club and country reaps rewards
A fresh start for club and country. The last time Callum Robinson walked into FAI HQ, Stephen Kenny was in charge of the national side and Heimir Hallgrimsson was an unknown name for the majority of the Irish public.
A lot has changed in the 288 days since the Cardiff City forward last pulled on an Irish shirt. As the long search for Kenny’s successor began, the 29-year-old missed out on the March squad through injury, before John O’Shea omitted him again in June due to his lack of minutes.
While on pre-season duty six weeks ago, Robinson admitted 2023/’24 “wasn’t a great season” for him as he netted just two Championship goals in an injury-hit campaign. But having got off the mark 10 days ago before reporting for international duty this week, the 37-cap forward hopes his fresh start will prove fruitful.
“Not nice at all [to be dropped in June] but I expected it. I spoke to Sheasy [John O’Shea] in the summer, I had only played two 25 minutes due to a few injuries at the back end of last season,” said Robinson, as preparations continue for Saturday’s blockbuster Lansdowne Road clash against England (5.0).
Happy
“Listen, I’m a professional, a senior player at 29 now, Sheasy did not have to explain himself. In the summer I grafted, worked really hard and had it in my mind to get back into the squad, and the Cardiff squad. The start of the season went well and this topped it off, getting back with the [Irish] boys. I’m really happy at the moment.
“When you have a few injuries and when you are trying to get back, getting 20 minutes here and there, it’s hard. It can happen in your career. It made me work really hard in the summer and so far so good.”
Having missed John O’Shea’s two windows as interim boss earlier this year, Robinson has come into Hallgrimsson’s first camp with fresh eyes and says he likes what he sees so far in the new boss.
“It’s been good. Most of the boys all know each other anyway and we’re slowly getting to know what he wants from us. Just from meetings so far, bringing it back a little more solid defensively and being hard to beat.
“He seems like a nice guy, but like any manager there will be demands on the players to produce and perform.
“He [O’Shea] is a really good coach and he did well in the games he was given. The lads got some results. It’s nice to still have him on board and it helps with the manager, as Sheasy knows the players inside and out, so it’s good.”
In his first interview upon taking the job last July, Hallgrimsson set out his stall and said he’d be seeking a “back to basics” approach over his current 17-month deal.
Robinson says the focus now is on making Ireland a team who are hard to beat as the Icelander aims to end the nation’s long wait for a major tournament qualification, with the World Cup qualifiers on the horizon.
“I don’t think the gaffer is trying to run away from playing football, because that’s the way football is going at the moment, but as I said about being solid and hard to beat, sometimes it means going deeper and being solid defensively. I still think playing wise we have the ability,” added the Northampton native.
“When you’re playing teams like England and the top nations, we don’t want to be naive. We want to go with a solid base and hope we can get a result.”
Was being hard to beat something that’s been missing in recent years?
“Maybe,” said Robinson. “If you are trying to play expansive football you are obviously more spread out across the pitch. I wouldn’t say that’s the right way or the wrong way. We just have to try to have a blend when you’re playing teams like England.
“Stephen Kenny did such a good job, I think, he brought all these young players through. He left and that’s part of football, it’s about results, but for Irish football he has done the hard bit. You see now, Adam [Idah] at Celtic is playing, Troy [Parrott] is playing, Jayson Molumby is playing.
“All these players were young and are now a big part of the team. There’s a good sprinkle of older lads as well.
“That’s key to have the senior lads – myself, Alan Browne, Docs [Matt Doherty], Séamus [Coleman], Robbie [Brady] – to help the young lads. With a new manager coming in, he has young lads with 20, 25 caps already. So maybe it is a good time.”
Hallgrimsson will be hoping those green shoots will begin to bear fruit under his reign.
Saturday would be a dream start.