‘We were often reminded about the success of the Lionesses’, says Brighton ace Katie Robinson

IT was in September 2020 that a “heartbroken” Katie Robinson revealed her season had been curtailed by a knee ligament injury.

Fast forward to this November and the soaring Seagulls forward has seen her impressive form for Brighton rewarded with her first senior England call-up.

Robinson’s club, who play West Ham today may not have had the best results in the league by their standards in recent weeks.  

Four defeats in five games – including a hefty 8-0 loss to Tottenham – has seen one of the top tier’s most dogged sides drop to second from bottom.

A start described as challenging by former Albion boss Hope Powell, 56, who stood down from her role this week after five years in charge.

This summer Brighton also saw several experienced first-teamers depart.

This includes seven players from the Seagulls side that ended Chelsea’s 33-game unbeaten run in February 2021.

But Robinson’s energetic attacking displays have been among the bright spots for the Seagulls this term with the player netting once in five WSL appearances.

Her efforts have seen her make the jump from England’s Under-23s, with the forward named in Sarina Wiegman’s squad before games against Japan and Norway this month.

In September Robinson said: “There’s more of an expectation of the (Under-23s) group with the senior side ahead of us being European Champions.

“When we’re in camps they would remind us of that.

“At the camp (after the Euros) we were regularly reminded about the success of the seniors.

“That’s what everyone has got to be striving for.

“We’ve got to make that gap between the Under-23s (and the senior) as small as possible so that when the transition is made for any player, it’s not too much of a big one.”

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On Robinson’s call-up, interim Albion boss Amy Merricks said: “It’s a real credit to Katie and a real credit to all of the staff that worked with her as well but mainly her.

“She has been very diligent, and very committed to her preparation application, and that needs to continue.

“Katie has lots of potential as a player.

“She needs to keep her head down, keep focused, which I know she will, and really enjoy the opportunity that she has next week.

“She had some real difficulties with her (ACL) injury.

“She still has a long way to go, but it’s good to have a role model within the club and a pathway that is starting to achieve these things.”

On the forward’s reaction to her call-up, Merricks added: “I gave her a call straight after and she was quite in awe at first, but she was very upbeat and excited but also focused on the game this Sunday.”

A Charlton loan spell from January to the end of last season saw Robinson get some minutes after making her senior Albion debut in a clash with Leicester in January.

The forward made nine appearances for Karen Hills’ Addicks netting once with the club finishing fifth in the Championship last term.

And last month she scored within five minutes of coming on as a substitute during England’s Under-23’s 1-0 defeat of Belgium. 

Robinson added: “It was a good opportunity to get game time and more real experiences on the pitch, which is helping me now at Brighton.

“I feel sharp and technically better for it, so I’m glad that I did it.”

In recent years under former gaffer Powell, Brighton has nurtured the talents of a number of rising WSL stars including former Seagulls Maya Le Tissier and Ellie Brazil.

Like Robinson, Le Tissier, who sealed a summer move to Manchester United, received her first senior Lionesses call-up after a storming start to her Red Devils career.

Merricks added: “As a club, we’re really proud of developing individuals to be able to fulfill their potential and be the best they can be.  

“We saw that with Maya (when she was here) and we’ve seen that with Katie and with other individuals within the team as well.

Brighton, who finished seventh in the WSL last term, are eager to return to winning ways after a tough run in their five opening fixtures.

These included losses to Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea who currently occupy the league’s top three spots.

Their last four top-flight duels with West Ham ended as victories for the Irons.

Merricks hopes her side can return to winning ways ahead of the international break.

The Brighton boss said: “Our players are focused and ready to put on a display that the fans and the club can all be proud of as well as themselves.

“They know that if they put their focus into the game and stick to the principles we want to deliver then there’s no reason why we can’t perform well.”