“ CALLUM ROBINSON “

Enjoying being back in the team playing regularly?

"Yeah! It’s been a weird one for me, I missed a lot last season with my hamstring. Then started pre-season really well, scored a few goals, I was buzzing, then the Wycombe game just before the season started, I had a twinge in my lower back. I tried to get through that, but it got too sore in the end.

"I had to build my back and my hamstring up for game time. I got myself in to the team, worked hard and have enjoyed the last five or six weeks and starting games."

Callum Robinson

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Niggly injury behind you?

"Yeah. Behind the scenes I’ve been doing my work. It wasn’t just the back it was the hamstring as well. It goes back to February really. It was a lot of months missing football and at this level it takes months to get back to that level. Thankfully I am back through that now and the smile is back on my face!"

Callum Robinson

Had to work hard - had an honest chat with Bulut?

"It’s football. He is the manager, I am the player and I always have to take on board what the manager is saying. It was tough because I am trying to get back to fitness and trying to get back on board with what the manager is saying.

"Fitness-wise I wasn’t 100% and the only way I could get there was to start games and the manager to play. He put me to start against Huddersfield and that night went well.

"So it was a lot of things. He knows what I can bring to the team. It was just a bit about being fully fit. And before that, the lads were doing great!

"I am always humble enough to take it and kick on after that, which I think I have done and repaid his faith."

Callum Robinson

Bulut seems honest with the players?

"Yeah, it was a tough one. I wanted to show the gaffer more of what I could do at the start of the season. I lacked a bit of fitness with that, so I couldn’t really show him. But I built myself up and have been able to kick on from there and show him bits of what I can bring to the team."

Callum Robinson

It's been a bit up and down since you’ve joined - how’ve you found it?

"Coming into the team, having left it in February, it’s obviously night and day. For the club, it starts from the top. Recruitment was as good as it could have been in our situation. We have players with so much ability. It’s improved the way I play. It’s made me better and I’ve enjoyed being back with the boys."

Callum Robinson

Injury and a new manager to impress - does that makes life difficult?

"It’s tough for anyone, any business, if the manager keeps changing. Different tactics. It was tough last year, really tough. From all my experience in football, I’ve never had so much change. But now, it’s nice because it proves with a bit of stability, bringing in players in the summer, and the results show that.

"Whoever was here last year will know it was a tough season for us. That makes you stronger as well. Even this season, the way we are, we are really humble. We are not rocking up to Preston away and thinking we are going to beat them. We still have that mentality from last year, which I think is healthy. But I think we have proved we can give any team a game."

Callum Robinson

Fans positive now, that must be nice?

“It’s nice. From when I came in it was a tough season so it’s nice to see the flipside with the good times. And it doesn’t stop now. We’re in a good space and I can feel it. Even when we lose, we’re not far from getting a win or draw. The only really disappointing one was Norwich. The one the other night was a 0-0. Otherwise we’re in a good space and we need to keep it that way.”

Callum Robinson

O’Dowda has been a big miss?

“A big miss. Obviously Rambo is Rambo – he’s god and everyone’s going to ask the question. But Callum is huge for us and when he does come back he’ll be huge for us. He gives us something different, that running power, gets a lot of crosses in. He adds a lot. We all know what Rambo can do, he’s a special player, but Cal went under the radar and has been a big miss for us.

“I was just chatting to him. He’s getting there. He’s back on the pitch so he won’t be too far away. He’s naturally fit so, once he’s back training with us, I’m sure it won’t be long.”

Callum Robinson

How do you assess your style under Bulut?

“It’s tough because last year for me you can’t relate from that manager to this. But he has come in with his own style. We want to play football, we only go long when we have to. He wants to get players in the right areas, myself for instance, getting into good areas where I can affect the game in the final third. From my experience, I naturally do what he wants anyway. Defensively, we’ve been solid. Teams find it hard to break us down and you can feel that, even the other night against West Brom. They’re a quality team and it took an unbelievable goal. The way the gaffer wants to play suits me and a lot of the lads.”

Callum Robinson

How does his demeanour compare?

“I’ve worked with a lot of different characters. Everyone has their own way. What I like is that he’s a winner. I’ve been with managers where you’ve played well, not won and the manager says we’re unlucky. The gaffer here it’s not about that. It’s about winning. I enjoy that because at the end of the season you don’t look back at games you played well in. He’s got that winning mentality and that runs through the team. When we win games, the passion is there and we’re buzzing. Look at Sunderland away, we didn’t do much but we won.”

Callum Robinson

Fans positive now, that must be nice?

“It’s nice. From when I came in it was a tough season so it’s nice to see the flipside with the good times. And it doesn’t stop now. We’re in a good space and I can feel it. Even when we lose, we’re not far from getting a win or draw. The only really disappointing one was Norwich. The one the other night was a 0-0. Otherwise we’re in a good space and we need to keep it that way.”

Callum Robinson

How is it heading into the window? Is there a feeling of being threatened?

"No, it’s about increasing the quality. If you want to be successful you have to keep moving forward. Kieffer Moore has played at the highest level and scored goals in the Championship. He would make the team better and it would make us all successful."

Callum Robinson

If Kieffer were to come back?

"He’s a Premier League player. So I think for any squad or manager, his quality, he scores goals internationally, in the Premier League, Championship. If that did happen it would only be excitement.

"But we need to focus on the games until January. He is a top player and he is completely different player to myself. Any quality of player like that, I can understand why people are asking the question!"

Callum Robinson

Pressure changed from relegation battle to making play-offs?

"I don’t think we are talking about play-offs. We aren’t even in December yet. I don’t think any player or manager can think about the play-offs. We just need to keep believing and keep doing what we are doing. We know what last season was like! We knew how bad it was to be down there. The mentality is not wanting to be down there. There will be loads of highs and lows from now, injuries, suspensions, like the other night JC and KG can’t play, two changes straight away. We need to maintain the consistency. We have a really good group this season and it’s exciting."

Callum Robinson

Goals were a problem, but now goals being shared around. Pressure off you a bit?

"I always want to be top goalscorer or most assists. It helps when you’re on the pitch when others have the ability and same mentality as that. You don’t want to rely on one player, you need 14, 18 lads throughout a season to be successful. From being out of the squad in February to starting games now, it’s so much more fun I’d say. There’s so much ability in those forward areas."

Callum Robinson

Callum Robinson on Bulut:

‘What I like is that he’s a winner. I’ve been with managers where you’ve played well, not won and the manager says we’re unlucky. The gaffer here, it’s not about that. It’s about winning. He’s got that winning mentality and that runs through the team.’