Burnley’s Robinson: Premier League a new animal

Burnley’s veteran stopper Paul Robinson believes the quality of the Premier League has soared over the last decade – but is adamant the Clarets are good enough to stay up.

The 37-year-old former England international has deputised capably for the injured Tom Heaton in recent defeats to Manchester City and Stoke, signing at Turf Moor way back in January.

But he confessed his experiences in those fixtures demonstrated the extent to which the league has improved since his last Premier League appearance in 2012.

“Players are fitter, stronger, they are running further and their ability levels have gone up,” he said.

“I think the game as a whole from 10 years ago is a completely different game.

(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

“The level of football as a whole has grown due to the money and the depth management teams go to.

“You have dieticians and sports scientists. It’s a lifestyle now and it wasn’t 10 years ago.”

The Eagles have had a topsy-turvy start to their Premier League campaign, with three defeats in succession leaving them just three points clear or relegation danger.

Nonetheless, the former Leeds United, Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur stopper is confident Sean Dyche’s men are equipped to negotiate the drop.

“I think the team spirit and the togetherness – without the talent we have in that dressing room – is enough to keep us up,” he said.

“There is a will to win and a desire not to get beat. The type of people we’ve got in there, there’s more than enough to stay in this league.”