Return of the Jedi

Defender Plays the Full 90 Minutes in Fulham's Win Over Burnley

Antonee Robinson marked a significant milestone in his recovery journey by completing his first full 90 minutes of the Premier League campaign, helping Fulham secure a crucial 3-2 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.

The United States international has endured a challenging period since undergoing knee surgery in May following Fulham's season finale. The injury, which originated from a dead leg sustained during a USMNT friendly last fall, ultimately split his tendon and caused severe discomfort throughout the latter portion of the previous campaign. Robinson courageously played through the pain for Fulham but was forced to miss both the Nations League Finals in March and the Gold Cup after finally going under the knife.

His road back to full fitness has been gradual, with Robinson making only four appearances this season before Saturday's match—three substitute appearances in league play and one League Cup start. His most recent outing before the Burnley fixture was against Aston Villa in late September, leaving him sidelined for over two months.

The 28-year-old left-back has been candid about his struggles, admitting he still doesn't feel completely back to his pre-injury form. Robinson acknowledged being "still not feeling 100 percent on it or how it felt a year ago before the injury first happened, but I'm getting there slowly." The mental toll of watching from afar has been equally difficult, particularly as the national team endured disappointing results without him.

Robinson's successful return couldn't come at a better time, with the 2026 World Cup rapidly approaching. The defender, who started all four matches when the United States reached the round of 16 in Qatar, will have four friendlies to prove himself worthy of reclaiming his starting position under head coach Mauricio Pochettino before the tournament kicks off on home soil next summer.