Profile

Michael Robinson scored 15 goals in 45 games for Preston in the Second Dvision at only 20 years of age.

Malcolm Allison noticed his talent and bought him for a considerable fee of £750,000 to Manchester City. Expectations were high, but he failed to live up to them and was sold to Brighton only one year later for £400,000.

Robinson's career was on the rise again and a move to Seville beckoned. Manchester United and Newcastle had also shown an interest in Robinson, who had been relegated to the Second Division with Brighton.

The exploits of the Sussex club in reaching the 1983 FA Cup final meant that many of their players became much more recognisable and Liverpool came knocking. Robinson was snapped-up as cover for Ian Rush who had been struggling with injuries in pre-season.

Robinson made his debut in the Charity Shield against Manchester United. Joe Fagan was patient with his new signing when he didn't score in his first nine games.

He eventually scored in a 5-0 victory against Odense Boldklub in the first round of the European Cup and went on to score a hat-trick in the League in a clash with West Ham two weeks later.

Only another three League goals followed by the end of the season and Robinson didn't play in the last 10 fixtures as Liverpool retained their domestic Championship.

He had been a Wembley substitute in the all-Merseyside League Cup final, but didn't figure in the Maine Road replay three days later.

1983-84 proved in the end to be an exciting season for the Irishman as it culminated in a substitute appearance in the European Cup final in Rome.

In his second season Michael only figured in six more League matches, three of those being as substitute, before he was transferred to Queens Park Rangers.

He spent a couple of years in West London before trying his luck in the Spanish League with Osasuna.

Although Michael didn't play long in Spain, he remained in the country and after learning the language to an extremely capable level and has since made a very good living as a respected and knowledgeable football reporter and analyst within the Spanish television network.

Other clubs:
Preston, Man City, Brighton, QPR, Osasuna