Alex Robertson facing double Cardiff City hurdle as "crazy territory" beckons | OneFootball

Football League World's Cardiff City fan pundit discussed how, and if, Alex Robertson fits back into the side after missing the start of the season

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Cardiff City have enjoyed a stunning start to the 2025/26 League One campaign without being able to summon the services of star midfielder Alex Robertson, who is yet to feature this term owing to injury.

The Bluebirds continue to sit pretty at the top of the league table with a game in hand over the majority of their divisional peers, having not played over the weekend after the scheduled home clash against Burton Albion was postponed due to a number of international call-ups, and they have won five of their opening six encounters.

Rather impressively, Cardiff are the only League One side yet to suffer defeat or concede a single open-play goal, too, with stars emerging all over the pitch for hugely-popular head coach Brian Barry Murphy. From summer signing Nathan Trott and the likes of Will Fish, Ronan Kpakio and Dylan Lawlor to Rubin and Joel Colwill, Isaak Davies and Chris Willock, Cardiff have been dominant at both ends and have very much set the pace as emerging title favourites in English football's third-tier.

One player who is yet to play any role in Cardiff's early success, however, is Robertson, with the Australian-born midfielder having missed the start of the season through a shin injury suffered in the side's final pre-season test away at League Two outfit Notts County in July.

Robertson, who reportedly had interest from up to 12 different Championship teams along with undisclosed clubs in Europe and the MLS before eventually staying put, will be expected to return to action before long but, despite being one of the chief prized assets within the Welsh capital after an impressive debut campaign last term, there are concerns over how, and if, he will fit back into Barry-Murphy's side.

Alex Robertson facing Joel Colwill, David Turnbull hurdle at Cardiff City

The 22-year-old joined Cardiff from Manchester City last summer and showed signs of real quality as the Bluebirds suffered relegation. Robertson's consistency had been called into question by supporters, however, he remains widely recognised as a huge asset who Cardiff were rather fortunate to retain this summer, and, having previously lit up League One during a notable loan spell with Portsmouth, expectations will be high upon his return.

In Robertson's absence, though, 20-year-old academy product Joel Colwill has stepped up and performed admirably, offering Cardiff's silky and sleek midfield some much-needed athleticism and tenacity out of possession.

David Turnbull is yet to establish himself as a nailed-on starter but has impressed when fielded, too, with the creative Scotsman setting up three goals in just four league appearances this term.

FLW duly asked our resident Bluebirds fan pundit, Matt Hall, to explain whether he is surprised that Cardiff managed to retain Robertson's signature and if doing so could go down as the club's best piece of business throughout the summer window, or if the ex-Man City prospect could find it difficult to force his way back into the side once he returns from injury owing to the performances of teammates in the middle of the park.

Matt expressed some concern about Robertson's performances in pre-season and noted that the talented midfielder will have to oust the likes of Joel Colwill and Turnbull, although the frantic fixture schedule — described as "crazy territory"—ultimately means that he sees him getting plenty of games, with no shortage of opportunities to be eased back in after spending more than a month on the sidelines.

"I think with Alex Robertson, it remains to be seen," Matt told FLW.

"If we get the Alex Robertson that played in pre-season, maybe you would be looking at cashing in being a better option because was not at it at all.

"All the qualities we know he has and that we saw in spells last season were not present in pre-season, he was not at it one bit and then the injury came at an awful time.

"He has a bit of work to do. I don't think it's just Joel Colwill he needs to get past, it's David Turnbull as well.

"Turnbull had a much better pre-season than him, he was in the 'A team' over Robertson when we had split elevens and, at the moment, he probably would be ahead for me.

"The difficult part is that we have a smaller bench in League One this season, so if he doesn't make it into the first eleven then you're looking at leaving one of the midfielders out of the squad altogether, which feels really harsh. But I'm not concerned, I think he will get back into the side.

"We're getting into crazy territory now where it'll be game after game after game, he will play matches. We've got all the cups now, so we can ease him in that way as well.

"I think he will get himself back into the team. At the end of the day, he's worked under Barry-Murphy before. I do think we will see a change of role that will see him come in as a number six, Joel Colwill has been so good and Eli King's injury means we are one man short in that role.

"I can see a situation where, in these home games when we are having more of the ball and attacking sides, Robertson may come in for Ryan Wintle in that deeper role and we see a more forward-thinking midfield. So we've got options, we've done really well to avoid selling him.

"Whether that's because he didn't push for a move we don't know. You would've thought he would've, or maybe we just didn't get the fee we were looking for, but it's a good sign that we didn't cave in and take the money like we have done before."

Alex Robertson will have plenty of upcoming opportunities to feature for Cardiff City upon return

Once Robertson returns, he will be met with a hectic, jam-packed fixture schedule which will force Barry-Murphy into summoning the wealthy squad depth at his disposal.

Cardiff are next in action away to fellow promotion hopefuls Stockport County on Saturday afternoon, and will remain on the road for the start of their EFL Trophy campaign at Exeter City the following Tuesday. After that, it's back to South Wales for a home clash against Bradford City on September 20 ahead of the Bluebirds' midweek EFL Cup third-round trip to Burnley, and they'll be sticking around in the North West for Wigan Athletic away on the 27th.

Cardiff will be back at home for the rescheduled fixture against Burton on the 30th, but similarly hectic months are to come with five matches set to be contested in October and a further six in November.

Robertson, it will be hoped, should be poised to return to action at some stage this month and, despite fierce competition for places in Barry Murphy's midfield engine room, he should be back in the side before long, with a number of opportunities waiting for him to remind everybody of his worth.