Carlisle United coach on defender return and Blackburn loss

The defender made his comeback from injury in yesterday’s Central League Cup reserve defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

Robinson, out since April after suffering a stress fracture to his ankle, came on for the last 20 minutes of the Blues’ 5-0 defeat.

The 23-year-old former Middlesbrough man can now build on his first game for five months as he bids to impress new head coach Mike Williamson, according to academy boss Steven Rudd.

“He's trained really well for a couple of weeks now and it’s great to have him [involved],” Rudd told the News & Star.

“He’s a great lad and he's chomping at the bit to get back.

“That 20 minutes there for him is massive, just psychologically, more than physically.

“Hopefully he can go on now and start kicking on again and getting himself back involved.”

Robinson’s cameo came on a tough afternoon for a young Blues side as they were comfortably beaten by a Blackburn XI that included former Rangers midfielder Todd Cantwell and others with plenty of Championship experience, such as Kyle McFadzean and Joe Rankin-Costello.

Harrison Neal was among the pros to get an outing in an otherwise youthful Blues side (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Carlisle fielded four professionals – Harrison Neal, Gabe Breeze, Jack Ellis and Anton Dudik – along with youth players, and Rudd said the young Blues players will have learned plenty from the experience.

“It was definitely an education. I think that's [how] we've got to look at it,” he said.

“We've worked it out and [Blackburn] have got well over 1,000 league appearances under their belt between their squad.

“And we've got three or four 16-year-olds on the pitch, first-year scholars, which is great.

• Carlisle United v Blackburn Rovers - as it happened

“The scoreline is very disappointing, the manner of a couple of goals is disappointing. But actually, when you put it in context, our lads will be miles better off for that education playing up against senior pros.”

Blackburn wide man Amario Cozier-Duberry struck an impressive hat-trick while Igor Tyjon and Leo Duru also netted for Mike Sheron’s visitors.

The game unfolded in front of new Blues head coach Mike Williamson, who watched from the stand along with coaches Chris Bell, Ian Watson and Carl Magnay, as Rudd, Mark Birch and Jamie Devitt took the helm in the dugout.

On what United would learn from the game, Rudd added: “Concentration, decision-making, the speed of the game and doing the basics of the game.

“They'll learn that that's men's football. Mistakes get punished and to get to the next level of where they want to go – and that's all of the players on the pitch – they're the small margins that you have to get right.

“Blackburn came with a really strong side and that's great. We've got out of it what we wanted out of it as well. We've got Jack Robinson back on the pitch. Jack Ellis has got good game time. Gabe Breeze has got 90 minutes. Harrison Neal's got 90 minutes.

Gabe Breeze got an outing in goal in the reserve game (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“We haven't got an under-21 squad. So, we have to get our lads as close to being ready at 18 years old as possible. We could have played Blackburn's youth team and it would have been a more competitive game of football.

“But actually, we've got more out of that. Even for our second years, they've got to be that ready this time next year, pretty much, if they want to progress in their career.”

United, against their Championship visitors, tried to adhere to a new passing style of play which they are aiming to develop under Williamson, and Rudd added: “I think it's obvious now – the club's got an identity, a vision, a style of play, which is excellent.

“And it's up to us now to educate the youth team and the academy lads to get to that level and understand it.”

Aran Fitzpatrick was substituted for Robinson in the 70th minute after suffering a knock to his ankle, but Rudd said: “He’ll be fine.”

The teenager was not involved for loan club Workington Reds on Saturday. “He felt a little niggle on his hamstring at the back end of last week from the Tuesday night game at Workington,” said Rudd.

“He was rested over the weekend. He's played today, so hopefully he'll be OK and back for them at the weekend.”

United opted to give Breeze an outing in goal with summer signing Jude Smith not involved again. Asked about Smith’s absence from the squad, Rudd said: “It was just that Gabe needed the game time. Gabe's been on the bench for a few weeks, so that was just purely game time to get Gabe 90 minutes.”