Is Paul Robinson about to join the 'Pool?

By Albatross
July 8 2003

Is Paul Robinson about to join Hartlepool United? The former Newcastle player has been joining the Pools squad in training. Let's have a bit of a look at his past - which includes one of the most infamous moments in Newcastle United's recent history....

Robinson's career has so far seen him play for Darlington, Newcastle, Wimbledon, Burnley, Dundee United, Grimsby, Carlisle and Blackpool. After joining Newcastle in the same deal that took James Coppinger to St. James Park, he moved to Wimbledon for a reported £1.5million. He left Franchise at the end of last season for Blackpool, but is once more looking for another club.

Despite this, he has yet to show why so many people were interested in him; his 99 professional appearances include just 30 starts, and he's hit just 9 goals.

At Newcastle he made just two starts, and the last of these was one of the most infamous moments in Toon history. The occasion was the early season Tyne-Wear derby in 1999/2000; Robinson had started the previous game with Shearer unavailable, but was expected to make way for his more illustrious counterpart. Gullit instead infuriated Mags everywhere by leaving Robinson in, with Shearer only on the bench - though he did come on with 20 minutes to go. Sunderland won the match 2-1, Gullit got the sack, and Robinson didn't start another game.

He did notch his only goal in their colours later that season though, with the final goal in a 2-0 UEFA Cup win over CSKA Sofia. Hre joined Wimbledon at the start of the 2000/1 season, but his career at Selhurst was limited to just 6 appearances - all but one of them from the bench. After playing a part in just five games for the Dons, and three months after his big money move, he was farmed out on loan to Burnley and then Dundee United.

Robinson's record is not impressive; but he must have had something to make the likes of Newcastle and Wimbledon be prepared to pay out fees for him. What Neale Cooper has to decide is whether Robinson still has it. One motivation for the 24 year old is that in pro terms he's now close to drinking in the last chance saloon; if he wants to continue his career as a full time footballer then he's got to impress someone - and quickly.