PAUL Robinson said his comeback after a two year absence from the pitch felt ‘natural’ after admitting he had been determined to end his career on his terms.

The 37-year-old hadn’t made a competitive appearance since September 2014 until he was called on to start for the Clarets against Manchester City on Saturday with Tom Heaton out with a calf injury.

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The former England goalkeeper brushed off any signs of rust to turn in an assured performance, including two good saves from City striker Sergio Aguero.

And for Robinson it was a joy to be back out on a pitch, having decided he wasn’t going to let his career end with the way he left Blackburn Rovers.

“I knew that I still had something to give and I knew that I wasn’t happy with the way things ended at Blackburn,” he said.

“I’d had such a good career and I didn’t want it to end with it being somebody else’s decision. I felt, at 36 at the time, I was too young.

“I enjoyed my time out of the game, I had a little bit of time with the family, but I missed it. If I decided that I missed it in three or four years time then it’s too late by then, I’d have missed it completely.

“I had to do something about it but I didn’t just want to be an old pro coming back just for the sake of coming back. I wanted to do it properly.

“It was nice to be back on the pitch having not played a competitive Premier League game for four years and a Championship game for two years. It’s just nice to be back on the pitch and playing again and it just felt natural.”

Robinson added: “I got myself fit, started training again and I wanted to come back at the best possible level that I could and give myself every opportunity. I didn’t want to come back just for the sake of it. When I came back I wanted to be fit, I wanted to be sharp, I wanted to be hungry.

“I went back training again and the call came from here in January last year and things just went brilliantly. I just bided my time.”

Robinson said he had been more excited than nervous before taking to the pitch against City, and added his early save from Aguero had been a good confidence booster.

He was given his chance with Heaton’s injury meaning he ended a run of 142 consecutive league starts for the club.

“I was given a chance which was really fulfilling,” he said. “I had half an inkling that I’d be playing on Tuesday because he did it on Monday night at West Brom.

“He didn’t look great with his calf then and I kind of knew throughout the week that the opportunity was possibly coming.

“I was looking forward to it, really looking forward to it. For me it’s a free one because nothing was expected of us against Manchester City and nothing was expected of me. I just wanted to go out there and enjoy the performance as best I could and be as good a stand in as I can.”

For Robinson it was also apt that his comeback came against Manchester City.

“It’s quite ironic actually,” he said. “When I was at Blackburn I got a blood clot on my lung and missed 18 months to two years. I got myself fit again, came back and my return was against Manchester City.

“My little boy plays for York City - he broke both his arms four months ago and he made his comeback on Sunday against Manchester City.

“Now I’ve been out for two years and I’ve made another comeback against Manchester City. There must be something in the family, it’s a bit weird.”