United's flying winger has been ever-present this season (edit: until suspension for Tuesday's game against Rushden), playing on the left and right and already finding the net four times.

"After my first full season last year I had to come back and kick on again this season and try to perform better," says the 19-year-old.

"I think I performed better at the start of the season than I have recently and I have to get a bit more consistency into my game," he admits frankly.

"I seem to have one good game then a couple of 'OK' games so I need a lot more consistency in my game to do better for the team and get my name about a bit more."

Expectations of the Bishops Stortford youngster are higher now after last season and he reveals that former boss Gary Brabin warned him to keep his feet on the ground.

"I did well last season but I was told by the old gaffer that I've done nothing yet in football, which I agreed with, and I've taken his advice to get my head down and work a lot more.

"You do get a lot more expectations from the fans and your family and the gaffer and the players, but you've got to demand more from yourself too," he says.

"It can be hard but I think you just have to listen to everyone around you and see what else you can improve on."

Hailed as a good prospect while still a scholar and handed his first team debut at just 17, Robbie seems to have been around for years but he only turned 19 in May and admits that he is still learning the game.

"I came from a Sunday league background before I joined Cambridge so I was only getting one training session a week when I was younger, and the first real coaching I've had has been here," he says.

"The coaching and training I get here is brilliant and it's a great club to be at."

The raised expectations also come from opposing teams. Given less space to work in and more respect from defenders, he is coming to terms with the challenge with help from the people around him at the club.

"I've found that a lot this year, especially against the teams who are up around the play-off area - they seem to know me quite well now and they know my game so I find I'm being doubled up.

"That makes it hard to make such an impact at the moment but I've got to work out how to get through and how to create more space for myself, so I have to get my head down and work a lot on that.

"Senior players like Paul Carden and Wayne Hatswell are helping me a lot with my game, and the gaffer's got a lot of League experience. He gives me feedback on what I need to be doing and how well I'm doing and if I'm doing anything wrong, so I'm getting a lot of help.

"I'm in a good environment at the moment," he adds. "It's a good learning curve for me and I've got good players around me to help me."

With over 40 senior appearances and nine goals last season, including the last minute winner at Histon in the FA Trophy, it's no surprise that Robbie looks back on it as a good campaign.

"I scored nine goals, which I was happy with in my first season, and it was a good feeling to finish second although we really should have won the league. I didn't expect to play as many games as I did but I enjoyed it and it was a great experience.

"Most of my goals came from deflections last year so I seemed to get quite lucky in front of goal, but there were a few memorable ones and I helped to seal a few games so they all mean a lot to me."

The disappointment of play-off final defeat at Wembley on the day after his 19th birthday was followed by the pre-season departure of manager Gary Brabin, and Robbie admits it was a blow.

"He gave me my first full season and a lot of guidance. People think he just threw me in but he gave me a lot of help and advice before I played, so it was very disappointing to see him leave."

However he feels the squad is adapting to life under Martin Ling and enjoying his football philosophy: "The new gaffer likes a lot of tempo in training, he likes us to get the ball down and pass it a lot and he likes us playing out from the back.

"It's the same as under Gary Brabin because he wants you to give 100% and play to the best of your ability so there isn't much of a difference between the two managers."

Relishing his role in the wing - "you're at the heart of everything, running at players, scoring goals" - Robbie wants the team to build on recent form to move up the league table.

"We need to start putting some wins together if we want to be in the play-offs at the end of the season again, but we've got some hard games coming up this month and over the Christmas period.

"I think we're strong enough - it's really the same team as last year - but we'll have to do our best and try to string some wins together, and hopefully move up the table to let people know that we're still here."

Built for speed on the pitch and a regular terror for opposing defenders, away from it Robbie is laid back and likes to relax by playing golf at least once a week and chilling out in front of the TV.

And he reveals that he has his eyes on at least six more goals this season: "You always look forward to scoring more goals than you did last season, so I've set that target and I'm going to try to get into double figures."

He closes with the promise that the squad is aiming for the play-offs at least again this season and states: "We can challenge. We showed last year that we can string wins together home and away and that's what we need to get back to.

"We shouldn't be where we are, we should be in the play-off places, and I think we've got a good chance this year."

--- 20 Questions ---

Apart from your family, what person has had the most positive influence on your career so far?
Probably Gary Brabin because he gave me my first full season and a lot of help during the season.

Who's the best Captain you have ever played with?
I haven't played under many captains but Paul Carden is a great leader.

The best player you've played with and against?
Again, I haven't played with that many people but the best technically would be Rob Wolleaston - he was probably the hardest man ever to get the ball off. 'Against' would be El Hadji Diouf when we played Blackburn this pre-season.

Out of all the players that have left United since you've been at the Club, who were you saddest to see go?
Aaron Grundy, the reserve keeper last year. He brought a lot of banter to the dressing room.

What player/team did you admire growing up and why?
I was an Arsenal fan growing up and I always admired Thierry Henry.

What's the funniest terrace chant you've ever heard?
The Ben Farrell one always makes me laugh.

Outside of football, are there any other sports at which you were good as a youngster and might have gone on to play professionally?
I'm OK at golf these days but I really just stuck to football.

Your top three sportsmen/women of all time?
Usain Bolt, Thierry Henry and Lennox Lewis.

What's your favourite meal and drink?
Chicken fajitas and a glass of coke.

What was the last album you bought?
I usually just put songs on the I-Pod but if I bought an album it would be Jay-Z.

What was the last film you went to see?
Saw VI.

What car do you drive?
I'm learning to drive and I've just bought a Mini One.

Where is the furthest you have travelled to on holiday?
Seattle.

In training, does anyone fancy themselves in a completely different position to their normal match day role?
Courtney Pitt likes to play centre mid and pop it about, and Glees fancies himself as a striker.

Out of all the players you have played with, who has/had the worst sense of style?
Rory McAuley doesn't have much dress sense; he just wears black and someone needs to introduce him to an iron!

Which Cambridge United player would you least like to be stuck in a lift with, and why?
Lee Phillips - he's very paranoid and doesn't talk much sense.

Which United player past/present would you 'set up' for a 'Beadle's About' kinda stunt, and what would it entail?
Danny Crow because he's pretty loud, and it would be something to do with a girl.

Where is the best place on Earth, and why?
I haven't found it yet!

What is the one piece of advice you would give a young player?
Get your head down, work hard and listen to your coaches.

What's the very best thing about football?
Playing in front of a big crowd and hearing your name being chanted.

Robbie was talking to Andrea Thrussell
web@cambridge-united.co.uk

This interview was also published in the programme for the FA Cup match against Kettering Town on Saturday 14th November 2009.

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