MOTHERWELL manager Stephen Robinson is hoping to welcome Hearts counterpart Craig Levein to Fir Park today, as he admitted that the job has taken its own toll on him since taking over as a number one.
Robinson is all too aware of the stress that comes with being the figurehead of a top-flight club, and the demands it puts on managers both physically and mentally.
But he has no doubts that Levein will soon be back in the thick of the action, because the job is like an obsession.
“I feel for every manager, it’s a stressful job,” said Robinson. “It’d be great to see him back in the dugout.
“I saw in the press he’s back on the training ground so that’s nice to see that it hasn’t kept him out too long. If he’s here, brilliant, we’ll welcome him.
“At times it’s an impossible job. You can’t ever keep everybody happy in this job.
“It’s a stressful job 24 hours a day, but we choose to do it, nobody forces us.
“It effects everybody’s families and their personal lives as well but we choose to do it. You have to be a strong character and people like Craig can deal with that. I hope that he bounces back health wise as well.
“It’s in our blood. Anybody that’s doing it, it becomes an obsession to you. You have to try and stay in your job. It does have effects on everything; on your health, on your outside life.
“You’re constantly thinking about it 24 hours a day. Once you win a game you enjoy it for about 20 minutes and then you’re thinking about the next game and who’s injured and who’ll train Monday. If you lose a game it takes over your life for a week until you get a chance to change that.
“I think we’re all mad if I’m honest, but it’s our choice.”
Robinson is also hoping to welcome back a fit Allan Campbell into his midfield after he was limped out of Scotland under-21’s victory over The Netherlands on Tuesday night, but it will be a late call on the youngster.
“He’s been a revelation for us since he came into the team and he’s become a regular,” said Robinson.
“He’s an important part of what we do. He’ll train [on Friday] and see if he’s any reaction on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Hearts midfielder Arnaud Djoum has confessed that his long-awaited comeback from injury should have lasted just three minutes, admitting that he deserved to be sent off shortly after coming on against St Mirren.
“It was a great feeling to be back on the pitch,” Djoum said. “There could have maybe been a sending off - I was too excited, I think.
“It was a pretty bad tackle. It probably deserved a red card and I was lucky I didn’t get it, I was just so excited after so long out; it was Tynecastle and my emotions were high.
“The support I got from the fans was special. I need to thank them too because they’re really great and supportive with me. They gave me lot of messages when I was out with the injury and that was nice for me.”
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