Cardiff City news as star admits having ‘frustrating eight months’ and player reveals family member is Bluebirds legend
The latest Bluebirds news from Cardiff City Stadium
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Robinson admits ‘frustrating’ eight months
Callum Robinson has admitted the last eight months have been “frustrating” owing to a string of injury issues which have limited his game-time for club and country.
The forward missed a good chunk of the back end of last season under Sabri Lamouchi, following a bright start in front of goal in a Bluebirds shirt, but has unfortunately been unable to kick on again this term. The Republic of Ireland international suffered a back injury on the pre-season tour to Portugal and has not really recovered.
Erol Bulut has come in and is yet to start Robinson in a league match despite a spate of injuries to players in those positions such as Callum O’Dowda, Josh Bowler, Aaron Ramsey and Kion Etete. Robinson seems fully fit now and even got on the scoresheet for Ireland in their comfortable 4-0 win over Gibraltar last night, heading home expertly from 10 yards out.
But speaking to RTE after the match, he said: “Personally, I’m really happy to be back in the squad after a frustrating seven or eight months with injuries. There was a long wait for the VAR for my goal but I was delighted it was given.
“I’m fortunate that I can play on the wing, in behind the striker, it’s what I’ve done all of my career. If the gaffer [Stephen Kenny] picks wingers it gives me more chance of more minutes.”
Quite where Cardiff’s manager sees Robinson playing is still up in the air. He has just seven Championship appearances to his name this term and has played them largely in an attacking midfield role, however most of his fruitful seasons in front of goal have come from him playing on the wing or even up front.
His international boss, unlike his club one, is under pressure for his job owing to a number of disappointing results in recent months. Robinson threw his backing behind Stephen Kenny, though,
“He [Kenny] has been great with me and with the boys,” Robinson added. “Some results haven’t been good enough, but sometimes the players have to take responsibility as well. He put me back in the squad when I haven’t played much club football because of fitness. He trusts me and obviously I have repaid him by getting a goal.”
Academy kid reveals pride at following in family footsteps
Cardiff’s Josh Beecher has revealed his great pride at making his Bluebirds debut, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather Billy Baker.
Beecher was brought on for his debut against Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup last month, with Bulut handing a number of young players an opportunity to step up as reward for their work in the age-group setup. And Beecher’s debut comes 85 years after his great-grandfather, a wing half who made more than 300 appearances for the Bluebirds over a 17-year period which was split by the outbreak of World War Two. He also earned a Wales cap, too.
“I’ve really enjoyed the season so far,” Beecher, 17, said. “As a scholar, I’m playing up an age group with the U21 side every week and training every day with them. I’ve now also made my First Team debut, which is probably the best thing that can happen for me. I’m learning a lot more from playing with the U21 side, so it’s great.
“I’m from Tonteg and my family support the club, while my great-grandfather used to play for Cardiff City. His name was William George [Billy] Baker and he played for City in the 1930s and ‘40s, which makes being with the club and making my debut even more special for my family and I.
“It’s been a dream for me since I was little, and it was an amazing experience to play in that match. There’s a lot of mixed emotions when you step onto the pitch initially, but I think it’s up there with one of the best things I’ve achieved in my life.
“I spoke to Darren Purse the day before the first team travelled to Blackburn, and he told me that I was going to be on the bus with them and I might be on the bench! I think I must have trained well before travelling because then later on I obviously got onto the bench ahead of kick-off.
“It’s been hard playing up an age group with the U21s, but it’s making me a better player being around better players every day. The games are faster, which I like as it suits my playing style, and I know that I’m getting better every day because of this environment.”
New coach explains ‘elite training group’
New Cardiff City coach Darren Davies has explained the ethos behind the club’s new ‘elite training group’ which is set to take place on Thursdays in order to help bridge the gap between the first team and academy players.
Davies has worked on the staff of Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou and former Cardiff and Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler during his time out in Australia, however he has returned home to Wales and, following a spell with Swansea, has been appointed individual development coach with the Bluebirds. You can read more about him here.
