Newcastle travel to Turf Moor for a tricky encounter with Burnley on Saturday, and there will definitely be a Premier League debutant on the pitch, with Tim Robinson named as referee.
It will be the West Sussex official’s first time in charge of a top flight game, and it remains to be seen how he copes with the extra microscope he will be under as a Premier League official, and the VAR issues that accompany it.
Robinson has been in the middle for a Newcastle game this season, however, with him being the official responsible for failing to send off Hamza Choudhury for the horrible challenge on Matt Ritchie – from which he has still not recovered – in the EFL Cup defeat to Leicester.
It is actually the fourth time he has been in charge of Newcastle, as he refereed the Magpies three times in the Championship season of 2016/2017, as well as that EFL Cup tie earlier this campaign.
Robinson has sent off a Newcastle player before
Robinson sent off Vurnon Anita in the home game against Wolves that previous season, while he booked seven Newcastle players in the four games he has officiated, and 11 for the opposition.
So far this season, he has refereed 14 games – 12 in the Championship and two in the EFL Cup – has brandished 43 yellow cards in total, and sent one player off for a second yellow card offence. He has also awarded three penalties so far too.
The only previous Burnley game has has refereed was in the Championship during the 2015/2016 season against Rotherham, in which he awarded The Clarets a penalty.
Newcastle fans with long memories may be quick to remind him of his error at St James’ Park in August, and they will hope he clamps down better on any similar challenges to any of our players this weekend.
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