Former England striker Kevin Phillips believes it could be best for Callum Robinson to leave Cardiff City in January as questions continue to mount over his future under Brian Barry-Murphy.
The experienced Republic of Ireland international has been left out of Cardiff's last four Championship matchday squads, having initially been omitted from the draw with Middlesbrough after failing to meet certain standards set by the Bluebirds boss. Robinson subsequently missed the victory over Birmingham City, the 3-0 defeat at Wolves and Wednesday night's dramatic 3-3 draw with West Ham United, despite Cardiff's increasingly stretched squad.
Phillips: A Move Would Suit Both Parties
Phillips, a five-time promotion winner, believes the situation may have reached a point where a parting of ways would suit everyone. Speaking in his latest column for Best Betting Sites, Phillips said: "Listen, it all depends on what's going on in the background."
"I've read the quotes; the manager's clearly not happy with the standards that he's set behind the scenes, and he's every right to come out and say that. He's disappointed because he's an experienced player."
"Callum has only started nine league games under Brian Barry-Murphy, so clearly there's something not right there. He was their top goalscorer in 2024/25, so we know he can score goals, but sometimes there's more to it than that."
"So, reading between the lines, and like I say, the nine starts and clearly not being in the squad as well, it might be best for both parties for Callum to move on when the window opens and start fresh somewhere else. I think it would be best for both parties."
Robinson's Goalscoring Record Under Barry-Murphy
Robinson, 31, was Cardiff's leading goalscorer during the 2024/25 campaign and has a proven track record of finding the net at Championship level. Indeed, since Barry-Murphy took charge last summer, the Irishman (0.61) actually boasts a better goals-per-game ratio than regular starting striker Yousef Salech (0.5). Yet he has started just nine league games under the current Cardiff boss, including only one this season.
Whenever Salech has been unavailable, Barry-Murphy has generally preferred to look elsewhere for solutions. Last season, it was Chelsea loanee Omari Kellyman who was given opportunities through the middle, while Jack Moylan has been the beneficiary this term. The difficulty for Robinson is that both players flourished in those roles.
Manager Cites Standards Behind Selection Calls
Barry-Murphy has offered only a limited explanation, saying: "We have certain standards that all the players have to adhere to before they're considered for selection. Callum missed out on some of those." The precise nature of the indiscretion remains unclear, although the manager has been careful not to criticise Robinson's character, insisting there was no personal issue between the pair.
"Callum's a great guy," he said last month. "He's been a great player for us and a great person, so there's no problem whatsoever. I'm very pleased to have him back in training this week." However, when pressed on Robinson's long-term future ahead of the Wolves game, the Cardiff boss was decidedly less forthcoming. "Game by game for us, always," he replied. "All that stuff about speculation and what's going to happen in the future is irrelevant to me."
January Window Looms as Contract Expires
Should Robinson again be absent for Saturday's clash with Burnley, it would mark five consecutive matchday squads from which he has been omitted. That would only intensify the scrutiny surrounding his position at the club ahead of the January transfer window.
The Bluebirds are expected to be active in the market, with the recruitment of another striker understood to be among their top priorities. But another attacking arrival would potentially push Robinson even further down the pecking order. With the Irishman's contract due to expire next summer, January could represent the final opportunity for Cardiff to secure a fee for a player who has made a significant contribution during his time in the Welsh capital.
