Antonee Robinson: Fulham’s in-form star is becoming one of the Premier League’s best left-backs | Football news

In a league where the title race often dominates the conversation and scoring goals is often credited as the primary path to success, defenders can easily slip under the radar.

Despite this, it has been a transformative season for left back Antonee Robinson. What many simply cannot ignore.

As he enters the press room, Robinson greets the team with a warm smile and wishes everyone a happy new year. It’s a small moment that reflects his down-to-earth demeanor, but his impact on the field has been anything but modest.

His combination of speed, defensive resilience and offensive contribution has made him one of the most consistent defenders this season.

By his own admission, Robinson recognizes the attention their performances have generated, though it’s not something he thinks too much about.

“It’s nice I guess but I try not to focus too much on it because, at the end of the day, it’s football,” Robinson said ahead of Fulham’s clash with Ipswich. live on Sky Sports this sunday.

“I could have two bad games in a row and people would be saying, ‘I always knew he was a**o’ and things like that,” he tells Sky Sports, fully aware of the unpredictable nature of football.

“You never know how it’s going to go, so I just enjoy doing well, I enjoy the team doing really well and me contributing to that.”

He’s reluctant to take too much credit for his performance, but the stats speak for themselves. No defender has provided more assists in the Premier League than Robinson. With seven assists in 19 games, he was only behind Mohamed Salah and Bukay Saka in top football.

For reference, last season was a strong one for the full-back, who picked up six assists in 37 games in all competitions. He has already surpassed that halfway through the season.

His persistence and dedication to detail is clear. Developing his game management and decision making was a key area of ​​focus.

“In the final third, when I’m in a position to put crosses in, I kind of try to slow it down in my head and make sure I’m picking somebody or picking the right decision, aiming for the right spot and just slowing it down a little bit in my own head,” Robinson continues to explain.

“It still probably feels fast, but it gives me that little bit of clarity where I need to put the ball.”

Usually a private person, Robinson provides a brief insight into the impact manager Marco Silva has had on him.

“I’ve talked a lot about how much I feel like he’s helped me develop personally and I give him a lot of credit for that,” he smiles as he continues to add.

“But in terms of the team, we’ve kind of had our ideals, our philosophy of how we play since he took over the Championship and he’s stayed true to that.”

Similarly, when asked about Robinson in the pre-match press conference, Silva spoke enthusiastically about a player he has known for nearly a decade.

“I’ve known him for a long time, he was Everton’s paymaster when I was there and now I have to work with him again here at Fulham.” Silva says as he addresses the media ahead of Sunday’s game against Ipswich.

“He’s a lot more mature, he’s not emotional during the game. Most of you don’t know him personally, but he’s very emotional and he’s a quiet person, but his game now is a lot more balanced and a lot more mature if I can say.

“Now that he’s having good or not so good action, it’s not going to affect him as much, he’s taken some steps as a defender, and he’s getting solid. We’ve been working with him, demanding of him and trusting him.”

Backed by his manager and showing no signs of slowing down, it’s no surprise that the 27-year-old American is also one of the most popular picks among Fantasy Premier League fans.

25.2 percent of all users chose him in their team. In fact, he is Fulham’s most-choice player, a detail he smiles to hear and would surely share with his teammates.

“It’s pretty good,” Robinson laughs, “I haven’t done fantasy in about five years because I’ve always set one or set it up. And I’d have one week where I’d miss changing my team and do bad and then I’m like, I’m not going to bother now.”

Leaning back in his chair, Robinson laughs as he shares stories about how his social media is full of fans clamoring for him to score a goal or two. Although his interaction is sometimes amusing, his instructions are clear.

“Don’t send me messages about FPL. It won’t affect my game.”

Like many other footballers, Robinson’s rise has been shaped by injuries, loans and moments on the bench. It is therefore not surprising that despite the opening of the January transfer window, he is enjoying these moments and is not drawn into speculation about his future.

“Everyone that I play with and that watches me play knows that I am 100 percent committed to the team. Every week I do my best to try to help us get to the level that I feel we should be at and that we deserve. So there is no discrimination, always I put 100 percent effort into every game.”

Few things in football last forever, however, Fulham fans can take comfort in knowing there are no imminent plans for him to leave the west London club. Instead, Robinson insists his side still have higher levels.

Since Silva’s side were promoted to English football’s top flight in 2022, they have been a relatively consistent mid-table side, distancing themselves from their previous yo-yo trend.

That same season, they finished 10th in the league with 52 points, just one point behind their best league finish in the 2009/10 season.

“The gaffer really, really makes a point of trying to break records, trying to make history,” says Robinson.

“Every time there’s a game where there’s an opportunity to do something we haven’t done before, he always mentions it to us.”

He only has to cast his mind back to Boxing Day, when Fulham secured their first away win at Chelsea since 1979.

“The game at Stamford Bridge is a good example of that. The speech he gave us before the game. We haven’t won there for 45 years. We managed to do it. We managed to fulfill it.

“We were just a point or so shy in our first Premier League season of level on points and came 10th. And with the quality the league has had this season and where we are, how many points we have, it’s a real testament because they all the teams in the middle, right around ninth place, so we’ll take the European place if we can get it.”

As Fulham prepare to extend their seven game unbeaten run into the new year. Robinson shares the collective ambition felt by many at the club.

“No one will give us games. We will have to earn every point,” he says.

“In the second half of the season, try to improve on our points tally from the first half. Get up the table and hopefully we can do the FA Cup as well.”

Football-wise, his youth may be behind him, but Robinson is on the rise and believes he has a lot more to offer.

“I still see my game improving and I believe there is potential to get better, and I hope so,” he says.

“Obviously I’m happy with the level I’m performing at now, but I always aim high and accept whatever comes my way.”