06 October 2004
Paul Robinson Press Conference

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Paul Robinson believes he can cope with the pressure of being England's number one - and wants a chance to prove it!

Robinson achieved a major breakthrough in his international career last month when he was chosen ahead of David James for England's World Cup qualifier against Poland.

Now the Tottenham goalkeeper is waiting nervously to find out if he will keep his place against Wales at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Not that you'd notice any nerves, though. The Spurs man has such a relaxed and friendly demeanour that it always appears that nothing will faze him.

"I don't expect anything, I don't want to take anything for granted," said the modest 25-year-old, who has been in outstanding form for Spurs this season, keeping five clean sheets already.

"I have waited around a long time to get my chance in the last game and it's obviously a massive boost to be given that kind of chance and recognition. To be chosen to play when all the goalkeepers are fit, not when someone is injured, was special.

"I would be disappointed if I didn't play against Wales because I'm a footballer and all players want to play. But I don't want to take anything for granted.

"All I can say is that I would like to be given the chance to show I can handle the pressure. I think I can do that."

Robinson's opportunity to start against Poland came after teammate James made an unfortunate and highly-publicised error during the Three Lion's 2-2 draw against Austria.

But Head Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has made it clear James' international career is not over, and that there is now a real battle for the number one spot.

"I'm ready for that," said Robinson. "But David has been brilliant with me. It was an awkward situation in Poland because you don't know how people will react.

"But before the game he came and put his arm round me and wished me all the best and told me good luck.

"Then he asked me what I wanted to do in the warm-up and it made it a whole lot easier for me knowing things were OK between me and him because we get on really well."

It's yet another example of England's incredible team spirit that James was able to be so supportive for his teammate in Katowice.

But however friendly they may be, the two keepers know they are going head to head for only one place in Saturday's team.

"I was given a chance in the last game and hopefully I'll be given another chance in this one," said Robinson.

"Most of the time I come into the England squad and know that unless there's an injury I'm not gong to get a chance. But having played the last game hopefully things have changed - and I've certainly come here with a positive attitude thinking that maybe I will get a start."

It's no coincidence that Robinson's promotion with England has come after he made a heart-wrenching decision to leave Leeds United, the club where he had played since he was a schoolboy.

But the move to Tottenham has clearly pushed the likeable keeper onto a new level.

He said: "I think I'm playingas well as I have been for a long time and it helps playing in a Tottenham team that is playing well too.

"I don't know if a lot has changed in my game, it's all about confidence.

"When I was at Leeds things weren't going right for us and when a goalkeeper is having goals put past him every week it doesn't do any good for his confidence and it doesn't look good.

"But the move has given me a fresh start, a new challenge and new people to impress. It's given me that little step up that I needed.

"I had been at Leeds since I was 14, seeing the same faces day in day out and it was like a breath of fresh air to move. People say the grass is not always greener on the other side but maybe it was for me, maybe it was the right time to move. I'm really enjoying it at Spurs."

Robinson certainly seems to be getting his timing right these days, and he was on hand at the right time, too, when England needed him in Poland.

He only found out on the day of the match that he would play, and it's a moment he will never forget.

He remembers: "It was the day of the game, at lunchtime. I had gone back up to my room and the phone rang and it was the manager and he said 'can I come up to your room to speak to you'.

"Well first of all you wonder 'what have I done!' and then you start thinking maybe I'm in with a chance of playing here. And when he did come up he just told me I would be starting that evening.

"My afternoon sleep went to pot after that because I certainly didn't get any sleep. I was bouncing round the room looking forward to it.

"When the match came around it just went really quickly, but it's made me want more."