Roll up for the battle for Huddersfield Town’s left-back berth!
In the white corner is Jack Robinson, freshly returned from England Under 21 duty, in the dark blue is Paul Dixon, the holder of three Scotland caps who would love to add more but accepts there’s no chance if he can’t tie down a regular place at club level.
On-loan QPR defender Robinson was with the Under 21s for their double-header against Portugal, against whom he won his 10th cap, and France, where he was an unused substitute.
Just as in Brest last Monday, where England suffered a first defeat in 12 games, the former Liverpool player had a watching brief for Town’s last match at Fulham, who won 3-1 a fortnight ago.
Dixon got the nod, like he did for the 2-2 Championship draw at Ipswich Town last month, taking his season’s appearance tally to 10 and leaving Robinson on 11 ahead of today’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday.
Robinson, 21, who is with Town for the season, said: “I’m enjoying my time here, and I’m just keen to get as many games under my belt as possible.”
Dixon, 27, now in his third season at the John Smith’s Stadium after moving from Dundee United and enjoying working under Chris Powell, his third Town manager and an accomplished former left-back himself, insists he has no problem with healthy competition.
“It’s what you need to make a club better,” he said.
“The situation is enjoyable, and the manager has been great, because he’s open and honest and keeps us in the loop about why he has made his decisions.
“For me that’s good man-management, and I think we are all enjoying working for him.”
Gordon Strachan is the man Dixon must impress to add to his three Scotland appearances, against Serbia, Macedonia and Luxembourg in 2012.
“As long as I play football I will want to play for my country,” he said.
“I’ve done it three times, nobody can take that away from me, and can hold my head up high.
“I will try my best to make it happen again, but even to have a chance, I will have to be playing regularly..”
