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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Dan Brown

Liverpool's youngest ever player swore live on TV at angry Luis Suarez and models his game on Jamie Carragher

It was in an unremarkable 0-0 draw with Hull City that Liverpool history was made in 2010.

Seventh-placed Liverpool were playing out a disappointing end to Rafa Benitez's reign at the club with a frustrating afternoon against the already relegated Tigers when, with three minutes remaining, the Spaniard made a historic decision.

A teenage Jack Robinson - somebody who many Liverpool fans may not have heard of at that time - emerged from the bench to become the youngest-ever player to feature for Liverpool's first team.

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Indeed, at the tender age of 16 years and 250 days, Robinson achieved his dream of playing for Liverpool Football Club before he'd even finished school - and he found out about it while at a party on the Friday night before the match.

"I remember being at a party on the Friday when I got a phone call saying 'you're playing for Liverpool tomorrow' - I left the party in order to go home and rest," he told Sky Sports in 2017.

"I got three minutes at the end, I came on left wing for Ryan Babel. I'd never played there before.

"I remember in the first five seconds, getting the ball off Lucas and turning before finding Steven Gerrard. He took on three players and hit the post.

"I nearly got an assist with my first touch!"

It's a league record that stands to this day, but unfortunately for Robinson, his debut did not signify a long career at Anfield.

After making his first appearance for the Reds, Robinson went on to play just two more times in the 2010/11 season. However, his performance against Arsenal is one that made people sit up and take note. Replacing the injured Fabio Aurelio, the pressure was on for the defender to perform.

Up against the dangerous Theo Walcott - who registered 13 goals and nine assists for Arsenal that season - Robinson received widespread praise. While it is certainly not an accurate way to measure the level of a player's performance, the fact he was named in Garth Crooks's BBC team of the week shows just how well he handed the Gunners man.

Alongside fellow academy graduate Jon Flanagan, Robinson was lauded by then manager Kenny Dalglish, who said: "We're delighted with what they've done and the fact it's been against Man City and Arsenal speaks volumes for them and the way they've been brought up".

Robinson failed to record any more appearances for the Reds' first team in the 2010/11 campaign, but he did sign an extension to his contract at the end of October 2011. The following season was less productive for the left-back as he only featured in League Cup matches at Exeter and Brighton.

Just six more appearances would follow for the Warrington-born starlet, with Robinson clearly struggling in a shocking 3-2 FA Cup defeat at Oldham.

Late in the game, with Liverpool chasing an equaliser, Robinson wasted a great opportunity by taking an ill-advised shot when Luis Suarez was available for a simple pass in the box. The Uruguayan reacted angrily to Robinson, who then appeared to retaliate by telling Suarez to "f**k off."

The clip would go viral on social media and Robinson was unfortunately subject to abusive messages after the match. A loan move away from Anfield soon followed.

The Englishman secured a season-long loan move to Wolves, but - despite a number of impressive individual performances - he was unable to help the team avoid being relegated for the second successive season.

On his return to Merseyside, Robinson was called up to the England Under-21 squad for the European Championships, which were held in Israel in June 2013.

After demonstrating his ability during his loan spell with Wolves, Liverpool made the decision to send Robinson out on loan once again. This time, he joined Blackpool for the 2013/14 season. Given that his appearances for the Reds had been limited - it was vital that he went out and played games - which is exactly what he did.

Recording 36 appearances in total for the Tangerines, the youngster did exactly what he needed to. He would actually have featured more had it not been for three red cards in the campaign - which saw him miss seven matches in total.

While his loan spell at Blackpool had certainly been notable, and achieved everything both Robinson and Liverpool were hoping for, his time at Anfield came to an end on August 29, 2014. He signed for a QPR on a permanent deal, but was immediately loaned out by Harry Redknapp to Huddersfield Town in the Championship.

Even though his Liverpool career didn't pan out the way he - or the club - wanted, Robinson still benefitted from his time on Merseyside, especially as he was able to learn from club legend Jamie Carragher.

"I actually base my game on Jamie Carragher - I like to defend in his style," he told Sky Sports.

"Training with him helped my game. Seeing how he positioned himself, how he reacted to the ball coming into the box and his determination - that's how I wanted to be. That time with him was a huge influence on my game and still is."

And after featuring 31 times for Huddersfield, Robinson was playing some of the best football of his short career.

However, he was dealt a devastating blow in March 2015 when he suffered a serious knee injury, leading to his loan spell being cut short. Speaking to MyLondon in 2016, Robinson admitted to frustration at his inability to help the team during his time on the sidelines, but insisted the pain and suffering he went through was behind him.

"It was just frustrating more than anything. My original injury was 12 months and then after coming back I kept picking up knocks here and there, so I think I coped with it well mentally," he said.

"All you can do is keep your head, the worst thing to do is lose your mind but it’s easy to do. I have done everything possible to get back.

"I’ve spoken to people away from football to get my mind right and I think I’m at a stage now where I’m fine and just want to be back on the pitch playing again now."

No one can ever blame a player for struggling to recover from a brutal injury, and it would be fair to say that it took Robinson a significant amount of time to full get over his nasty blow. In six of the defender's starts for QPR in the 2016/17 campaign, he was substituted - and did not record any more appearances.

He admitted to Sky Sports that he experienced dark days during his rehabilitation, stating that he was in a 'deep depression' when he was out injured.

"It was a very tough time in my life," he explained

"The area where I live in Surrey is so quiet. That was all adding to the stress. Going back to the house, where I was just sitting about. I was isolated. Not being able to walk to the shops just in case the knee swelled up again. I was sitting on the couch from the minute I got back from football until you go in again.

"It was like a sad film. Me looking out of the window at the lads training. It takes its toll on your mind. Not having friends or family around you to break up the bad times.

"I was in a deep depression when I was injured."

After two years of injury struggles, Robinson was arguably at a crossroads in his career. There was, among many, a worry that he would struggle to get through a season without picking up an injury. However, much like he had done throughout his career, he came back stronger.

In 2017/18, he'd move across from left-back to become the first-choice centre back at QPR, scoring twice in 31 appearances and earning himself a new contract offer. However, he'd reject the London club's proposed deal and instead joined fellow Championship side Nottingham Forest.

Across the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, Robinson became a regular for Forest. In those two campaigns, the defender registered 59 appearances, scoring twice and chipping in with three assists - even captaining the club towards the end of the season.

Having made just three Premier League appearances during his time with Liverpool, Robinson had finally earned a chance back in the top flight when Sheffield United came calling for his services in January 2020, it was an offer simply too good to turn down.

He moved to Bramall Lane on a two-and-a-half-year-deal, becoming the Blades' second signing of the January transfer window after former Everton man Jack Rodwell's arrival. Speaking at the time of Robinson's arrival, then Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder was delighted with the move.

"Jack's got a great pedigree and he will make our squad stronger," he said.

"But he isn't just coming in to make the numbers up, it's a specific position in our system and we feel he is the best option for us at this time.

"Jack can comfortably play in a couple of roles and we're delighted to add him to the group. He's got a fantastic attitude and he's ambitious to earn a place in the team."

While his move to Sheffield promised so much, it quickly became a familiar story for Robinson. The former Liverpool man featured just once as an unused substitute prior to the suspension of the season due to Covid-19 and made just six appearances once it resumed behind closed doors.

The following campaign was just as frustrating, with Robinson being limited to just nine Premier League starts in a season in which the Blades were relegated. Last season started very similar to how the previous one had ended, with the defender out for favour for much of the first half of 2021/22. He was, however, a regular after Christmas as the Blades missed out on promotion via the play offs.

Robinson is yet to feature for United this season after being sidelined with a knee injury, with reports stating he faces up to three months out. After the recent loss to Watford, manager Paul Heckingbottom revealed Robinson had collided with Sander Berge in training. The former England Under-21 international has less than 12 months to run on his contract in south Yorkshire.

Twelve years on from his record-breaking debut, it's fair to say Robinson's career hasn't always been plain sailing.

In the years since his debut against Hull, the defender has seen Jerome Sinclair better his record by 244 days in 2012 and Andy Robertson solidify his position as one of the back left-backs in the world.

Robinson's career with Liverpool, even though it lasted from 2002 to 2014, was somewhat short-lived. There is a sense of 'what if', and yet, at the age of 28, there is still so much more for him to achieve - even if that isn't with the Reds.

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