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USMNT: Top 3 left-backs for 2022 World Cup qualifying

By Andrew Dowdeswell

CHESTER, PA - MAY 28: Antonee Robinson #17 of the United States controls the ball during the friendly soccer match against Bolivia at Talen Energy Stadium on May 28, 2018 in Chester, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
CHESTER, PA - MAY 28: Antonee Robinson #17 of the United States controls the ball during the friendly soccer match against Bolivia at Talen Energy Stadium on May 28, 2018 in Chester, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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WIGAN, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 09: Antonee Robinson of Wigan Athletic reacts during the Sky Bet Championship match between Wigan Athletic and Brentford at DW Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Wigan, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
WIGAN, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 09: Antonee Robinson of Wigan Athletic reacts during the Sky Bet Championship match between Wigan Athletic and Brentford at DW Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Wigan, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images) /

2. Antonee Robinson

While Vines is now flourishing at the start of his career, Antonee Robinson has taken a much more difficult route into senior football. But after a largely fruitless spell at Everton, the pacy defender eventually landed in Wigan, via Bolton, and is now a mainstay in a Championship starting XI.

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Robinson has settled into life well at Wigan. He made 26 appearances last season, has been a first-team regular this year, starting every league game he was fit for before a groin injury kept him out of the final eight matches. He is also still only 22 years of age, which is extremely young for a Championship prospect.

And then there is the curious prospect of a move to AC Milan. Very rarely do you see players move from Wigan to Milan, but Robinson was on the verge of a £10 million move in January only to see it fall through at the last second.

His performances for the USMNT have been spotty, to say the least, and while his athleticism and speed are exhilarating, his defensive positioning and awareness leaves a lot to be desired. Nevertheless, a young-20s American playing every week in the second tier of English football is a higher standard than the majority of the talent pool.

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