Alex Robertson is pursuing his “dream” of achieving a double success this year: securing promotion with Cardiff City and representing Australia at the World Cup.
Currently, Cardiff sits at the top of League One, holding an impressive 11-point lead over the teams chasing the automatic promotion spots.
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The 22-year-old midfielder was sidelined at the beginning of the season, but since rejoining the first team in late October, he has made 24 appearances for the Bluebirds and netted three goals.
If he continues to impress, the two-time Australian international hopes to earn a spot in the squad for this summer’s World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“That would be a dream come true. I must perform well at the club level, and I believe I’m doing that,” Robertson stated. “Playing for my country has been the proudest moment of my career so far, and if I can keep it going, that would be unreal.”
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Recently, Robertson has become a key part of Cardiff’s midfield, a stark contrast to the early season when he was left out of the lineup.
His exclusion surprised many, especially considering he had been a regular contributor for the Bluebirds during their Championship campaign last season.
Brian Barry-Murphy, Cardiff’s head coach and former colleague from Manchester City, expressed a desire to see more “intensity” from Robertson in training.
After addressing those concerns and reclaiming his spot on the team, Robertson has come to appreciate first-team football even more. “At that point, I realized that playing—even if it was just to get back on the pitch—was better than what I had been experiencing,” he reflected. “I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to play and I’m really enjoying it.”
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Although Cardiff suffered a 5-2 defeat at Plymouth Argyle last Saturday, they remain well-positioned for an immediate return to the Championship.
Robertson previously helped Portsmouth achieve promotion to the second tier in 2024 while on loan from Manchester City, and he believes Cardiff has the capability to accomplish the same.
“I got injured in January during that season, but I managed to play about 20 games. Even though I missed the latter part of the season, I watched every match and was aware of how the players were feeling,” Robertson said.
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“I’ve seen it happen at the club; it’s important to stay calm. The presence of experienced players like Robbo [Callum Robinson] and Chambo [Calum Chambers] significantly supports the younger squad members. The key is to take it one game at a time, prepare well, and maintain our focus on winning. That’s how we’ll achieve promotion.”
“Our aim is to finish at the top of the league. While it’s great to have that cushion over third place, our primary goal is to win the league.” He added, “I’m personally a winner, and I believe most of the squad shares that mindset, so that’s what we are striving for.”