Midfielder Alex Robertson admits it was hard being a bit-part player for Cardiff City at the start of this season, but is delighted to be back in favour and scoring goals.
Alex Robertson admits it was hard being a bit-part player for Cardiff City at the start of this season, but is delighted to be back in favour for Brian Barry-Murphy's promotion-chasers.
The 22-year-old Australia midfielder was a first-team regular as the Bluebirds were relegated from the Championship last season, but up until 25 October had not played a single minute of this campaign.
Since returning to the fold, Robertson has been a regular throughout November and December - scoring his first goal of the season in Friday's crucial 1-0 win over Exeter City that kept Cardiff top of League One.
"It's been a while. You know, being back in and amongst everything has been really nice," he said.
"It was a tough period being out, but I just put my head down, tried working as hard as I can, and then now everything's coming positive, which is nice. And yeah, just playing as many games as I can, getting that match fitness back like I had when I was fully fit."
- Bayern target Lawlor 'should stay at Cardiff to play'
- Illness spreading 'quickly' through Cardiff City - Barry-Murphy
Robertson was ruled out of the start of the campaign with a leg injury sustained during pre-season but, despite being available for selection, he was repeatedly left out of Cardiff's matchday squads.
Barry-Murphy - who also coached Robertson when he was part of Manchester City's age-group set-up - said during the player's exile he needed to match the "intensity" of his fellow midfielders.
But leading up to Robertson's first selection of the season at the end of October, Barry-Murphy confirmed the player was "starting to meet those expectations, because I know he can do it".
Robertson has since featured in 12 games in all competitions, and after claiming his first goal of the campaign spoke for the first time about a difficult period.
"Brian's the manager, he makes the decisions. So if that was his decision at the time, which it was, then, you know, I can't do anything but respect that," Robertson said.
"All I had to do was just keep trying to work the hardest I could in training every day, which I did. And yeah, I was really thankful that I was able to get back in the fold of things."
Long ties from Manchester City days
Robertson joined Cardiff on a four-year contract in August 2024 in a deal that could rise to £3m, signed under former Bluebirds boss Erol Bulut.
Barry-Murphy took the reins at Cardiff City Stadium in June 2025, leaving a coaching role under Ruud van Nistelrooy at Leicester City. The 47-year-old Irishman had previously moved to the King Power Stadium from Manchester City in December 2024.
"I have a great relationship with Brian... I still messaged him and spoke to him. Even when I was here last season and he was at Leicester," Robertson added.
"I've had a good relationship with him since I was at [Manchester] City. I really enjoyed playing under him at City and I'm enjoying it now.
"But it was just that time of everything that was happening. I just had to respect his decision and knuckle down and thankfully I'm back in it.
"It's just take it game by game and just try and do the best I can for the team more than anything."
Cardiff host Stevenage on Monday night (19:45 GMT), looking to maintain their promotion push against rivals who go into the game fifth in the League One table, with Robertson aiming to make his mark once more.
Category: General Sports
