Thomas Robinet rediscovers his scoring touch as Dunkerque surge in Ligue 2 | OneFootball

Thomas Robinet has rebuilt his reputation at Dunkerque, scoring 11 goals in the past three months. The 29-year-old is now Ligue 2’s second top scorer with 9.

According to L'Équipe, that burst includes eight in nine league games and three in two Coupe de France ties, with Dunkerque on seven wins and two draws in Ligue 2.

Former Sochaux full-back Mickaël Alphonse recalls his arms-out celebration, borrowed from Pedro Miguel Pauleta, and says he was already technical, clinical and willing to defend. Robinet adds he is thriving in a system that involves the striker and lets him drop in or run beyond, aided by team-mates’ movement.

He leads Ligue 2 this season for plus/minus, the goal difference while he is on the pitch. He captained Sochaux to the 2015 Gambardella title against Lyon, a 2-0 win in which he scored before Marcus Thuram.

His two seasons at Almere, after spells in the National with Villefranche, Laval, Châteauroux and Nancy between 2019 and 2023, brought maturity. He hit 11 in 33 Eredivisie games in his first campaign, then moved into midfield and was made captain, accepting he was less effective but intent on setting the tone and learning from deeper.

Former team-mate Théo Barbet calls him tireless and team-minded, pressing for 90 minutes. Barbet believes that if he keeps this up he has everything to finish as Ligue 2’s top scorer. Dunkerque, seeking a successor to Gaëtan Courtet last summer, have embraced him.

Source: L'Équipe