Luke Robinson on his 'crazy' rise into the Wigan Athletic side

The over-riding positive to emerge from Wigan Athletic’s torrid season has been the emergence of so many homegrown players.
Luke Robinson is a Scotland Under-19 internationalLuke Robinson is a Scotland Under-19 international
Luke Robinson is a Scotland Under-19 international

And Luke Robinson is the latest of those to announce himself on the big stage.

Handed the thankless task of replacing injured Tom Pearce, the left-back produced an assured display against Northampton on his full debut... and even laid on the winning goal.

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He underlined his promise in the 2-1 defeat at Oxford on Sunday and appears on course for his third start this evening, when Hull City visit the DW Stadium.

“It’s a bit of a crazy experience because I’ve been lucky to get involved at quite a young age,” said the 19-year-old.

“After the Northampton game, it felt so surreal. It’s too hard to explain, you have to do it to know what it’s like. To put the shirt on and be involved, with so much riding on it, people’s careers on the line, and helping the team get the result – with such a high-prospect team – it doesn’t feel real at times.”

Robinson, a Scotland Under-19s international, saw fellow Latics youngsters Joe Gelhardt (Leeds United), Jensen Weir (Brighton) and Alfie Devine (Spurs) move on in the summer shortly after the club was plunged into administration.

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“At the start, when I’ve seen other players I’d played with for three or four years leave for other clubs, I didn’t know if that would be me or not,” he said.

“It was quite uncertain what was going to happen, we were told we could be involved, we might not be – but just to be ready.

“So I had that mindset, my main goal was to be ready because you never know when your opportunity may come.

“Then to see all these players step up, it’s great for the club and for the academy staff, to have 10 academy graduates making their debuts in one year.”

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With Pearce – arguably Latics’ stand-out player this season – doubtful to return this campaign, Robinson seems poised for an extended run in Leam Richardson’s side.

He said: “It’s been my goal to get into a first-team and establish myself as a regular and give everything I can for the team, and get us where we deserve to be – which I have no doubt we will.

“I’ve always had the mentality of being the one who made it, and I feel like I’m starting to get that opportunity.”

Robinson says he is grateful to be training and playing during a national lockdown, describing it is a “blessing” when many of his relatives and friends are confined to their homes.

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But due to Covid-19 measures, his chance in the senior side prevented parents Lee and Lorraine from watching from the stands.

“At Sunderland, we won and when you get a chance to go on your phone you see all the messages and missed calls,” he said.

“You don’t know where to start but the first thing I did was phone my mum and dad.

“They were saying they were so proud of me, but I was so pleased for them because they sacrificed so much for me.

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“I used to play for Wrexham and the timings of training at Wigan meant my dad would have to leave work early, wouldn’t get home until 9.30pm, four times a week... if he couldn’t make it my mum would sacrifice her work and do it. Then when I played Under-23s, it didn’t matter where it was, they’d be there with my nan and grandad as well.

“They’ve sacrificed so much, I wouldn’t be where I am now without them.”