Robinson calls on Hearts boss to let him prove himself on the pitch

HEARTS midfielder Scott Robinson today pleaded with manager Paulo Sergio to grant him more game time and let him prove his worth in the SPL.

The teenager is frustrated at his continual omission from the starting line-up and believes he can contribute at first-team level, although he expects to start as substitute at Dunfermline tomorrow. Sergio is satisfied with Robinson’s progress to date and started him in Hearts’ Europa League play-off second leg at White Hart Lane, plus the recent League Cup defeat to Ayr United. The player, however, is desperate for more exposure. “I just want to start getting game time now, that’s the most important thing to me,” he explained. “When I find out I’m not starting, I’m absolutely gutted. Hopefully it will come soon. I just need to keep doing my bit and make the most of what game time I do get by impressing the manager.

“I don’t want to just be training every day, not playing games and losing match sharpness. And I don’t want to play five or ten minutes here and there, coming on just to waste time. I definitely want to play more of a part.”

Sergio, meanwhile, has offered support to David Obua following his fallout with the Ugandan national coach Bobby Williamson and the country’s football association.

Obua was ordered to leave the Uganda squad before their crucial African Nations Cup qualifier with Kenya last weekend, punishment for failing to attend a team meeting with the country’s president. Sergio said he stands by Obua and is not worried about issues at international level. “I’m concerned with David’s injury, that is all. He didn’t train with Uganda over there,” said Sergio. “He came back here two days ago and did some work alone. I need to see if I can count on him for the weekend. His international problems do not come into our dressing-room or our club. When stories like that happen, there are always two sides to them. David’s a big guy and he has to know how to deal with it.

“He went to help his country qualify and was mad about that and things that happened there. But, with all respect to the Uganda coach, I have to be on the side of my player.”