Ethan is happy to swap the camera crew for the pressure of relegation
Ethan Robson knows a thing or two about pressure.
Dundee’s on-loan Sunderland hopeful withstood a ton of it to make the grade at his hometown club.
He endured it again as he battled in vain to help save the Black Cats from relegation.
He then stood tall as groin and ankle injuries robbed him of his chance to shine for Jack Ross’s side in League One this season.
Incredibly, he did it all under the watchful eye of the Netflix camera crew that films every cough, grimace and raised eyebrow at Sunderland’s training ground.
Under those highly-pressurised circumstances, a four-month loan stint at Dens Park ought to offer a chance for Robson to take a deep breath.
Instead, the 22-year-old has got the demands of the Dark Blues’ relegation battle to deal with.
Less driven players might crumble, driven to implosion by the relentlessness of it all. But Robson isn’t fazed. The more he fights, the more likely his ambition of starring for Sunderland is to come true.
“I grew up supporting Sunderland – and I still do,” he said. “It’s definitely my dream to play for my team as a homegrown lad.
“But obviously I need to come
here to Dundee, play as much as I can and have a good second half of the season.
“Yes, it’s a relegation battle, but I’m ready for it.
“I’ve experienced a bit of one before, last season, with plenty of high-pressure games where you’ve just got to go out and get three points.
“Nothing else will do.
“But I’m ready to show the Dundee fans what I can do and hopefully get a run in the team.”
His Sunderland boss, Jack Ross, is a firm admirer of Robson’s combative midfield efforts. He sent Robson north tasked with returning ready to stake a claim at Sunderland next season.
For his part, the midfielder is determined to follow his instructions to the letter.
“It’s nice to hear the manager talking the way he has about me,” said Robson.
“I’ve been unlucky this season with certain injuries and I’ve struggled a bit for game time.
“But I think the gaffer rates me as a player.
“I’m just hoping I can show everybody at Dundee that I’m ready for the challenge and that I’m a good player.”
So what can Dundee fans expect?
“I can get on the ball and play a bit of football,” Robson said.
“I’ve come through Sunderland’s academy, which is renowned for producing players who can pass and are comfortable on the ball.
“But I can also tackle – I love a tackle – and I like to think of myself as a box-to-box type.” Sunderland’s doomed Championship campaign, in which Robson made 14 appearances, was documented in the Netflix documentary series, ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’. The camera crew stayed on this season in search of a promotion story, and Robson reckons the Black Cats players are gradually getting used to being filmed going about their daily business.
“It’s quite intense,” he said. “You have to get your head around the fact that there are cameras everywhere.
“But everybody knew what we were getting into at the start.
“Unfortunately, we got relegated last season. But this season it has been a bit better. “The new owners, the new manager and new players have come in and created a great atmosphere around the club. It’s been really positive so far.”
Robson is also positive about getting stuck into Scottish football.
“I know there are a lot of good games to play in,” he said.
“There’s the likes of Celtic and Rangers, which are big games, but at this club itself, there’s a lot of history behind it.
“It’s something I’ve spoken to the Sunderland manager about.
“He told me it would be a great experience to come here, play, and hopefully get some games under my belt.
“Next up is Kilmarnock on Wednesday. Steve Clarke has done a great job there, and they have been on the radar in England.”