Callum Robinson relishing Cardiff City return after 'tough' talks with Erol Bulut

Callum Robinson has made 37 appearances for the Republic of Ireland, scoring nine goals

Cardiff City forward Callum Robinson is relishing his return to the team after "tough" talks with boss Erol Bulut.

Robinson missed the start of the season with a back injury and struggled to regain his starting place as Bulut told him to work harder defensively.

The Republic of Ireland international is now back in the fold and playing regularly, with Cardiff showing promise as they sit ninth in the Championship.

"I am always humble enough to take it," Robinson said of his talks with Bulut.

"He is the manager, I am the player and I always have to take on board what the manager is saying. It was tough because I was trying to get back to fitness and trying to get back on board with what the manager was saying.

"Fitness-wise I wasn't 100% and the only way I could get there was to start games and [for] the manager to play me.

"He put me in to start against Huddersfield and that night went well (Cardiff won 4-0 in October).

"So it was a lot of things. He knows what I can bring to the team. It was just a bit about being fully fit and, before that, the lads were doing great.

"Thankfully I am through that now and the smile is back on my face."

Robinson was something of a marquee signing for Cardiff when they paid West Brom £1.5m for his services in September 2022.

The 28-year-old impressed in his first season in south Wales even as Cardiff only narrowly avoided relegation - but missed the end of the campaign after injuring his hamstring in February.

Cardiff appointed Bulut in June and the former Fenerbahce boss has rejuvenated the Bluebirds, who are only three points adrift of the Championship play-off places after 18 games.

"Coming into the team, having left it in February, it's night and day," Robinson said.

"For the club, it starts from the top. Recruitment was as good as it could have been in our situation.

"We have players with so much ability. It's improved the way I play. It's made me better and I've enjoyed being back with the boys."

Even though Robinson has only been at Cardiff for 14 months, Bulut is already the club's fourth permanent manager he has played under.

"It's tough for anyone, any business, if the manager keeps changing," said Robinson.

"It was tough last year, really tough. From all my experience in football, I've never had so much change.

"But now it's nice because it proves [what can happen] with a bit of stability, bringing in players in the summer, and the results show that.

"He (Bulut) has got that winning mentality and that runs through the team. I've worked with a lot of different characters. Everyone has their own way. What I like is that he's a winner.

"Whoever was here last year will know it was a tough season for us. That makes you stronger as well. Even this season, the way we are, we are really humble.

"We still have that mentality from last year, which I think is healthy. But I think we have proved we can give any team a game."