Northern Ireland teenager Darren Robinson has been praised by interim Derby County manager Liam Rosenior following a bright display in Saturday’s pre-season win at Bradford City.
Robinson, who made his senior Rams debut in April, came on at the half-time break and played 45 minutes of the 2-0 warm-up victory over the League Two side at Valley Parade
Rosenior, who was appointed caretaker boss following Wayne Rooney’s departure last month, reported last week that Robinson had been “brilliant” in pre-season training.
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And the former Dungannon Swifts midfielder enhanced his reputation further with a vibrant second-half outing against the Bantams.
Afterwards Rosenior said: “I feel that Robbo and Carlos (Richards) will learn from this and they did really, really well. I was delighted with their resilience.
“I have to say, for the young players in the second half, I’m just as encouraged by their resilience. Bradford are a good side and favourites for promotion from their league.
“So for our young players to come in and keep a clean sheet, I was just as delighted with that. I was absolutely delighted with that today and hopefully it continues.”
Robinson played at right-back against Bradford with Derbyshire Live awarding the 17-year-old six out of a 10 for his performance alongside the comment: “Looks a good prospect.”
The talented teen, who joined the Rams from Dungannon in 2021, has played for Northern Ireland at U19 and U17 level and was invited into Ian Baraclough’s senior training camp in May.
It has been a rollercoaster year for the midfielder who broke through to the Derby first team panel after an impressive maiden season with the Pride Park club where he has starred for the U23s and U18s.
He was named on the bench in a 2-0 win over Sheffield United in January and made his senior debut as a substitute in a 3-1 defeat to Bristol City on April 23.
Robinson, who was recently named Derby County’s Scholar of the Year, said it had been a “brilliant experience” making his debut in his first year with the club.
Derby were relegated to League One at the end of last season with former Manchester United striker Rooney stepping down as manager on June 24.
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