The Mail on Sunday

Loose Women and TV dinners!

West Brom star’s recovery plan after two Covid scares

- By Joe Bernstein

WEST BROM striker Callum Robinson is finally able to start consecutiv­e Premier League games again after two Covid interrupti­ons.

While Robinson stresses his own health issues weren’t comparable to those blighted by the pandemic, he was unwell.

‘It’s been stop-start,’ he says. ‘The corona can hit you, I can tell you. For the first three or four days I had hot sweats, was cold, weak, catching my breath, had a headache.

‘It was a bad few days. I lost my taste and smell. I was ill.’

The 25-year-old has spent his career trying to make it after spells at Aston Villa and Sheffield United were short-lived.

This season promised to be different. He started Albion’s first four games — scoring twice in a 3-3 draw against Chelsea — before having to self-isolate in October after coming into contact with someone who had the virus.

He returned as a sub against Manchester United after only two days’ training and started against Spurs on November 8. He tested positive again when he joined up with the Republic of Ireland and it was back into quarantine.

Robinson didn’t fear being hospitalis­ed. But it wasn’t a pleasant experience, and his pregnant partner stayed away to protect their baby due in March.

Even when he started feeling better, Robinson found the hardest part of isolation was keeping active. He spent his time divided between some fitness work in the garden, playing FIFA and watching Loose Women.

‘You’re bored sitting at home. You can’t go for a walk, you can’t do anything. It’s tough mentally as well,’ he reflects. ‘The club sent my protein and tablets out but I just lived on Tesco deliveries. I got my microwave dinners in! I was watching TV — Loose Women — never again, though. The things you never thought you’d do in lockdown.

‘But we’re in the fortunate position where we’re still getting paid monthly. Imagine being [Covid] positive and just sitting there and your money’s not coming in.’

He missed a dream chance to play for Ireland against England at Wembley because of it.

‘You see the boys on TV and you can’t be there with them,’ he says. ‘It gets you down but you have to come through it. That’s for everyone, because there are people in horrible situations.’

His latest return to the starting line-up last weekend coincided with West Brom winning their first league game of the season against Sheffield United.

A repeat is needed today against Crystal Palace, who are also in the bottom half. Until last weekend, West Brom’s season had been a hard-luck story. They let a 3-0 lead slip against Chelsea, succumbed to Spurs in the final minute and were aggrieved at United when they had a penalty overturned by VAR at 0-0. ‘Training has been sweeter this week after Sheffield United,’ says Robinson. ‘The game we were most disappoint­ed in was Fulham because they are one of the teams around us and we didn’t perform.

‘Sheffield United was our biggest game of the season, our bread and butter. Beat Palace and we will be right in the mix and claw them down there as well.’

Robinson’s motivation to stay in the top flight couldn’t be higher. He failed to make the grade at Villa and rebuilt his career at Preston before Sheffield United signed him for a record fee. Yet he lasted only six months before joining West Brom on loan and helping them get promoted.

‘You can say it was a bit strange at Sheffield United. I started the first eight games, got a knock with Ireland and the lads kicked on after that,’ he said.

‘At my age and the way I am, I want to be playing games. Chris Wilder was clear with me. He was going to struggle to get me game time. There are no hard feelings. It’s great playing for West Brom.’

Slaven Bilic saw enough last season to sign him permanentl­y.

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