Robertson better ‘physically and mentally’ after long-term injury

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Charlie Hanson

2025-03-11T06:00+00:00

Josh Robertson has made ten Premier League 2 appearances for Albion since joining in 2024. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Josh Robertson believes he will benefit in the long term from his nine-month injury lay-off, but is focused on the here and now as he continues to build back towards his best.

Having joined Albion in January 2024 from Sunderland, the 19-year-old was out from March to December 2024.

“It was a very long break,” the midfielder said. “It was good for me to grow in different ways off the pitch and I got stronger physically and mentally – but I am so happy to be back playing.

“I am still building back up to match speed after being out for so long so it's still hard. I feel like I'm only at 50 per cent. When you're playing with top confidence everything just feels easy but I'm still quite far off that.

The midfielder made a goalscoring return in the Premier League International Cup in December. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

“I have still got a bit to get back before I can do certain things, but I’ve just got to go with the process and accept it.

“The big positive is I know my body better now. Even before training sessions, I make sure my stretches and activations well."

Having a couple of northerners in the squad has also helped Josh settle in.

“I'm probably closest with Charlie Penman, Joe Knight and Sahil Bashir. Charlie and Sahil are both from up north, so we had this sort of instant connection. And I get on with Joe just because he’s a good guy.

“Joe wants to play in the first team because Brighton is his boyhood club. You pick that up from him every day with what he does.”

The 19-year-old was in impressive form in Albion's 7-0 win over Whitehawk in the Sussex Senior Cup. 📷 by James Boardman.

Robertson will be hoping to have a key role when Albion take on Braintree Town on Tuesday (7.45pm) in the quarter-finals of the National League Cup.

Despite picking up seven points from four group stage games, it took a freak 6-0 win for Southampton u21s against Maidenhead United for Albion to sneak through to this stage on goal difference.

“I played in the last National League Cup game. It's a lot different compared to the PL2,” Josh added.

“But it's a good challenge because that's what men's football is like. We've dealt with it pretty well because we've got this far. Braintree will be a really hard game but I am hopeful we can get through it.”