Playing at this level is tough but I know I belong here
CALLUM’S CONFIDENT IN HIS ABILITY
IT took Callum Robinson mere seconds to appreciate that Virgil van Dijk really is a Rolls-royce defender.
And it only took 57 minutes against Switzerland last month to realise that international football is no smooth ride.
But facing into today’s key Euro 2020 clash with Georgia, these are the lessons Robinson feels he needed to learn, as he is still beating himself up about that Swiss game last month.
The Sheffield United star said: “Against Switzerland, I was trying to get involved as much as I could but some nights it doesn’t work out. My
running power was low and I wasn’t getting myself in the game. I never got close to anyone on the pressing and defending.
“It’s horrible to say because as a footballer you want to be on top of every game and the least you can do is work hard.
“That wasn’t the Callum Robinson I approve of as I know I can bring more. I wasn’t in the game.
“That’s just me being honest and it serves me well being honest with myself. I’m not going to sit there and think ‘that game is gone’.
“That’s in me now for these two games. I want to prove it to Mick and the lads that they deserve a good performance from me every game.
“The top players get themselves involved and do well. Hopefully I can make it shine tonight!
“I’m looking to bring it and be positive and do what I do best and help the boys get the right result.”
While Robinson tends to play wide of a front three for Ireland, he has been a striker for his club.
And he is already off the mark in the Premier League, having scored in the Blades 2-2 draw at Chelsea in August.
But while he got a brief taste of the top flight as a youngster with Aston Villa, Robinson admits the step up from the Championship takes some adjusting to.
“You can’t hide in the Prem. There are more athletes in the division and that’s why they’re playing at the top.
“Everyone’s a little bit quicker, a little bit smarter. You have to make sure you bring your ‘A’ game every week.
“Van Dijk is something else. In one attack I made three different runs and he just ran back straight and was watching me, covering every angle.
“When the ball is coming in the box, his positional sense, you can’t get in front of him because you’re not in the frame of the goal. And if you’re behind him he just clears it. But I’m embracing that and it inspires me to be better and to try and score against defenders like that.
“But I have to say, he didn’t even have a sweat on.”
Robinson added: “Scoring my first Premier League goal at Stamford Bridge was the stuff of dreams growing up.
“No game is easy in the Premier League. Every team is tough in their own way and we know that. But I feel like I deserve to be at that level.
“I’ve scored my first Premier League goal and my next thing is to score my first international goal. I can’t wait for that moment.”