Now Head of Academy Recruitment at Southampton, Robinson previously spent years helping identify some of England's most promising young talent for Chelsea. During that time he watched hundreds of elite prospects, weighing up not only whether they could become first-team players but whether they could add value to the club in other ways.
One player he knew particularly well was Jimmy-Jay Morgan.
The striker joined Chelsea from Southampton in 2023 in a deal reportedly worth around £3 million, one of the most talked-about academy transfers of that year. Today, Morgan finds himself at a crucial stage of his development after gaining valuable senior experience on loan and competing in Chelsea's increasingly crowded attacking ranks.
Robinson had followed Morgan's progress for years.
"Jimmy was a player—I don't know how many reports I did on him, probably as many as any age-group player," Robinson told Football Presse.
In fact, Morgan's relationship with Chelsea stretches back even further than many realise.
"Funny enough, Jimmy was with Chelsea in pre-academy, but then the rules got tightened up and he was out of distance because he lived Bournemouth way, I think," Robinson explained.
"He couldn't sign for Chelsea and signed for Southampton at Under-9 instead. But we kept tracking him."
Morgan developed into one of Southampton's most prolific academy forwards, attracting interest from clubs across the country. Robinson understood exactly what made him stand out.
"Jimmy's a good goalscorer. He finds space in the box," he said.
Yet even as Morgan's reputation grew, Robinson retained some reservations.
"I wasn't sure whether he was going to be quick enough for the Premier League myself.
"He's a different sort of forward. He's more like a Teddy Sheringham sort of forward in a way, as opposed to an Andy Cole."
The comparison is revealing.
Sheringham built a distinguished career through intelligence, movement and technical quality rather than explosive pace. Robinson saw similarities in Morgan's game, even if questions remained about how his attributes would translate at the very highest level.
Those doubts contributed to Chelsea's initial decision not to pursue him aggressively when he was younger.
"When I was there, when he was 16, the decision was no, we won't go for him," Robinson revealed. "So I was quite surprised a little bit later when Chelsea went back in for him."
By then, however, circumstances had changed.
Chelsea's academy recruitment model had evolved significantly as the club looked to stockpile elite young talent from around Britain and Europe. Morgan fit a profile that many top clubs actively seek: a proven youth-level goalscorer with resale value and the potential to outperform expectations.
Robinson is clear that academy recruitment is rarely a straightforward yes-or-no assessment.
"All of these players are good players," he said. "It's a question of whether they would fit in."
That distinction is important.
Elite academies are constantly balancing immediate football needs against long-term planning and commercial realities. Robinson explained that clubs generally sign players for one of several reasons.
The ideal scenario is obvious.
"Firstly, we think this player is going to kick on and be a big player for us in the first team," he told Football Presse.
But clubs also recognise that not every signing will reach that level.
"There are those that you think, yeah, we've got space for that sort of player. They're going to get games in our Under-21s and maybe they'll kick on to the first team, but we think we'll get value out of them anyway."
Robinson continued: "We think we'll have some good loan moves or that we will be able to sell them. So it's a business deal."
That candid assessment offers a fascinating insight into modern academy recruitment.
Chelsea, like many leading clubs, have increasingly viewed talented young players as both sporting and financial assets. A successful loan spell can significantly increase a player's value even if he never reaches Stamford Bridge's first team.
Morgan's pathway remains uncertain.
Since joining Chelsea he has competed alongside highly-rated forwards including Shim Mheuka and Tyrique George, while loan spells have provided valuable exposure to senior football.
"When you look at him in the Under-21s and you've got strikers like Shimmy, you do wonder where Jimmy's path is," Robinson admitted.
"These younger strikers now have jumped past him and that happens in football."
The next move could prove decisive.
"His next step, loan or move, is going to be a challenge," Robinson said.
Yet despite the uncertainty, Robinson's underlying message remains positive.
Chelsea signed Morgan because they saw talent. Whether that talent ultimately delivers goals at Stamford Bridge, success elsewhere, or a profitable future transfer, the recruitment logic remains the same.
"You're always hoping that you're finding the one who will be knocking on the door of the first team," Robinson says.
For Jimmy-Jay Morgan, that door remains open.