Jack Robinson reveals his pride in helping Sheffield United to ninth in Premier League season

Jack O'Connell has now had four years to perfect the unique overlapping centre-half role that has become such a hallmark of his game.
Southampton's Che Adams and Sheffield United's Jack Robinson challenge for the ball (Glyn Kirk/Pool via AP)Southampton's Che Adams and Sheffield United's Jack Robinson challenge for the ball (Glyn Kirk/Pool via AP)
Southampton's Che Adams and Sheffield United's Jack Robinson challenge for the ball (Glyn Kirk/Pool via AP)

Jack Robinson, in contrast, had a few months. So it is to his great credit that, when thrust into Premier League action once more at the weekend against Southampton's £35m strike force, he once again let no-one down.

Robinson noticeably attempted to get forward more often as the season wore on, after taking his chance when O'Connell was ruled out through injury, after getting to grips with the unique demands of the position. He plays it in a different way to his fellow Liverpudlian, but the loose change - by Premier League standards - that Chris Wilder paid Nottingham Forest for the defender in January looks like another shrewd bit of business.

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"It's a proud feeling," said Robinson, of the achievement of being part of United's class of 2020 that finished ninth in the Premier League - equalling the club's highest finish since the mid-1970s.

"All the lads are proud of it, too. A lot of the lads have come up from League One or the Championship into the Premier League, so they should be proud of themselves.

"But now the challenge is all about what we can do next season. We've had a few little mistakes creep in since lockdown and if we can cut them out, that will boost us even more.

"We were around the European places and that's something we can learn from and improve on. We want to improve on this season but we've got to set expectations, too.

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"We've had a really good season so if we're in and around this position again next season, then brilliant. And if we can improve on it, then even better."

Robinson joined the Blades for a reported £1m fee in January, although boss Wilder later told United's in-house media channel that he had spent £500,000 on the defender. He made nine appearances for the Blades this season and represented Liverpool earlier in his career, becoming - at the time - the youngest player to ever represent the Reds in a first-team game.

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