Has Middlesbrough loanee earned place in Carlisle United play-off XI?

The Middlesbrough loanee has come into the first-team picture because of the suspension that has ruled out Jon Mellish.

Robinson made his full debut at left wing-back in United’s last game of the league season at Sutton United on Monday.

Blues boss Simpson felt the 21-year-old competed well in the 1-1 draw.

He must now decide whether Robinson is ready for a starting role in Sunday’s play-off semi-final first leg clash at Bradford City.

Robinson started on the left at Sutton as regular left wing-back Jack Armer moved inside to centre-half.

That featured in a defence which saw ever-present Armer, Paul Huntington and Corey Whelan as the back three with Barclay in the right wing-back role.

Should Simpson want to switch Armer back to the wing-back position at Valley Parade, he could move Barclay into the back three and bring in Joel Senior or Jordan Gibson on the right – while Robinson has also deputised on the right in some of his substitute cameo roles.

On Robinson’s first start, Simpson said: “I thought he did ok to be fair to him. There were a couple of times he got himself into the final third.

Jack Robinson (Image: Richard Parkes)

“He was up against a really difficult opponent in [Sutton’s] David Ajiboye. He stuck to it well.

“I took him off [in the 67th minute] because I wanted to change the shape and be a bit more front-foot and positive.

“I thought it was important to go to a three [from the start] to make sure we stayed in the game, because Sutton were quite direct. Unfortunately we gave away a bit of a soft goal and we gave them a lift.

“Thankfully in the second half we were able to lift our performance and be better.”

Robinson’s outing at Gander Green Lane was his seventh appearance since joining Carlisle on a half-season loan in January.

Mellish, who would normally be expected to start on the left of the central defensive three, is suspended for both semi-final legs.