9:07am Friday 6th November 2009
By Andy Cryer
PAUL Hart fears his former protege Paul Robinson could return to haunt him tomorrow - after describing Blackburn Rovers’ goalkeeper as a ‘straight As’ student.
The Portsmouth manager was in charge of Leeds United’s youth set-up when Robinson helped them to the FA youth Cup in 1997, with Hart insisting he always knew he had a big future.
Robinson is now competing with Pompey goalkeeper David James for England’s number one shirt for this summer’s World Cup and both will be on show in tomorrow’s basement battle at Ewood Park.
Hart said: “I remember Paul in his last year at school. I was about to offer contracts and we were doing our assessments.
“Our goalkeeping coaches were always under instructions not to give As. Getting a B was always extremely good.
“But if you got an A it was outstanding. I sat in on his appraisal and when he came he got straight As on everything.
“I hadn't checked anything beforehand but they had given him straight As, so that left me with nowhere to go.
“I had to give him a two year YT on the back of 10 straight As!
"He was fantastic, though. Nicky Byrne, who was the other keeper at the time, is now in Westlife.
“Paul was excellent though. In his first year he got his chance in the FA Youth Cup and we won it again that year. It was the 1996-97 season. He was immense.
“He had great feet and grew in confidence with every game.
"Two years later he ended up getting his first team debut.”
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