'Incredible' former Sunderland midfielder backed to boost South Shields promotion bid
Former Sunderland and Blackpool midfielder Ethan Robson has joined National League North leaders South Shields on loan.
Former Sunderland midfielder Ethan Robson has been described as ‘the perfect fit’ for South Shields as they look to secure promotion into the National League this season.
The Academy of Light product made 14 senior appearances for the Black Cats and found the net in a Checkatrade Trophy win against Carlisle United in October 2018 before going on to earn first-team experience during loan spells with Dundee and Grimsby Town. A permanent departure from Sunderland came when Robson joined Blackpool on a free transfer during the summer of 2020 before he moved on to MK Dons just over two years later.
That switch meant the Houghton-le-Spring-born midfielder worked under current South Shields boss Ian Watson as he was assistant manager to Mike Williamson at Stadium:MK. The duo took Robson to Carlisle United when they were appointed at Brunton Park and Watson has been reunited with the midfielder once again after securing his services on loan last week.
Robson made his Mariners debut is a dramatic 2-2 draw with National League North rivals Marine on Saturday as on-loan Sunderland wing-back Oli Bainbridge scored a stunning overhead kick deep in injury-time to move his side six points clear at the top of the table. Second placed AFC Fylde will visit the 1st Cloud Arena on Tuesday night and Robson could be handed his first start after quietly impressing during as a second half substitute in Saturday’s draw on Merseyside.
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Watson is delighted to have landed Robson on loan and believes the midfielder’s knowledge of what he demands from his squad mean he is the perfect addition as his side look to secure promotion into non-league football’s top tier this season.
Moments
Speaking after Saturday’s draw, the Mariners boss said: “Ethan is an incredible football player. I worked with him at MK Dons and then again at Carlisle. He’s had moments with injuries that have probably halted his career but as a player, he’s exactly what we like. He loves getting on the ball, he’s got a lovely left foot, he understands how we play because he’s played for us twice before so he understands what we need and what we want.
“I think he’s going to help us a lot. He’s a great person as well so he’ll help us off the pitch as well and I just felt it was an era we needed a little bit of help in with Davey (Carson) and Luke Woolston suffering injuries. In the moments where we needed to change in games or we needed to rest one of those two, we haven’t been able to. So it was definitely an area we needed to strengthen and I feel we’ve got the perfect fit for that.”
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