Even for an Under-21s side, Robinson’s team has been a young one this season, with several 17 and 18 year olds playing major roles during the first half of 2023/24.

That relative lack of experience compared to many of our opponents has been evident in our results, which has left us midtable in the Premier League 2, out of the EFL Trophy, but through to the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup and well-placed to progress in the Premier League International Cup.

With the Academy season now at its halfway mark, and Robinson and his squad having regrouped over Christmas, the head coach has reflected on the state of play.

‘If you look at it just on results and our position it’s been a bit mixed, but we’re obviously pleased that we’ve gone through in the Premier League Cup,’ began Robinson. ‘I would have liked to have had a better run in the EFL Trophy, but I think that kind of shows where we are as a group in terms of being youthful and a little bit naive.

‘I’m glad that we’ve now got a really good chance in the Premier League International Cup and looking forward to seeing how the boys approach that last game against Valencia, which we need to win.

'We’d like to be in a better position in the league but there’s always a reason why – we’ve lost about 15 points from winning positions

‘So we’re clear on where the improvement needs to be. Some of it isn't easy because we’re working with varying numbers all the time. Sometimes we’re working with small numbers and you’ve got players coming in just for a couple of games, so with that comes an expected bit of lack of cohesion.

‘But at the same time, we know where we want to see improvement individually and we feel that if we can stay focused on that individual improvement, then that will help with the team development.’

That has left Robinson and his coaching staff with a clear view of where the players need to work to see improvement during the second half of the season.

With that in mind, he held a team meeting after the final match before the break – a crucial 3-1 win over Celtic in the International Cup – to outline targets and homework over Christmas.

‘As well as their physical programme, we had a meeting with them the day after the Celtic game, just to run through where they think they are. The biggest thing I’ve asked them to do is have a bit more of an open and growth-oriented mindset to their learning, and not put a ceiling on their development.

‘I showed them a video on behaviour and how to change it positively you need to change your habits. That’s what I’ve left them to go away and think about. I don’t want them to ever limit themselves through their thinking, so I’ve asked them come back with a real open mind, and showed them examples of where we've seen progression from players who have done that.’

It is not just at individual level where Robinson has a clear view of where the issues lie and how solutions can be found, even if some of them are inevitable in a team that is constantly changing as players make the step up to Under-21s football from the younger age groups and others move across to join Mauricio Pochettino’s senior squad.

‘It has been a bit inconsistent but we know why, we know where the problems lie. We feel a lot of it is around the psychological and sociological aspect of the game, more than the technical ability, so there needs to be a focus on that.

‘A lot of the time winning performances come from having that collective culture and spirit. There’s always a trade-off from having lads going with the first team – which is fantastic and is always what you want. It’s harder to build that collective culture, but it’s our job to keep coming up with solutions.

‘It’s always a balance. The perfect scenario is that you win everything and you also have players making debuts for the first team and being involved, but that very rarely happens. So that’s been a really pleasing aspect, to have some of the lads involved in the squad and training regularly with the first team.

‘You want the results to get more consistent, but at the same time, you can’t lose that focus on individual development. What’s been pleasing, especially in the last few weeks before the break, is that we are seeing gains in players’ individual development, especially some of the younger lads.’

However, while the younger and less experienced squad those player movements have created may make success on the pitch harder to come by, it can bring big benefits on the development side of the Academy’s work.

As an example, Robinson points to midfielder Kiano Dyer who – barring one month sidelined by injury – has played every minute in the Premier League 2 so far this season, despite only signing his first full-time contract in November, shortly after his 17th birthday.

‘Another pleasing aspect is the number of young players who have already had Under-21 experience,’ said Mark. ‘There are players like Kiano who, until his injury, was playing consistently.

‘We have so many Under-18s who have had several games, like Tyrique George, Michael Golding, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Jimmy-Jay Morgan. There are so many who are getting Under-21 experience already, which will put them in great stead for next season.’

It has been an up-and-down season thus far for Robinson and our Under-21s then, both in terms of results and larger off-the-field development goals. But for all the positives and areas for improvement, he is left with an overall feeling of excellent potential within this season’s squad.

‘The thing that probably pleases me most is that I know there’s so much more to come. We’re doing okay, we could be doing a lot better, but we know there’s a lot more to come,’ he summarised.

‘A lot of that will come with the experience of playing at this level. If you look at the clubs who are doing well at Under-21 level this season, it is predominantly those with teams who have been together for a while.

‘We have had some success, but we know there’s so much scope for more in the new year if the lads’ attitude and approach to everything is where it needs to be.’