By Owain Johns
June 5 2004

Portsmouth and Wales midfielder Carl Robinson is set to make his loan move to First Division Sunderland a permanent one after a successful spell with Mick McCarthy's side Carl Robinson is set to make a permanent move to First Division Sunderland after a successful loan spell at the Stadium of Light. Llandrindod Wells born Robinson, 27, will be out of contract at Portsmouth at the end of June and has been told that he will not receive a new deal.

Loan spells at Rotherham and Sheffield United earlier in the season was followed by a move to the north-east, where he almost helped guide Sunderland into the Premiership only for Ian Dowie’s rejuvenated Crystal Palace side to knock them out on penalties in the play-off semi-final’s.

The 17-cap Welsh international made 7 starts and 2 sub appearances in Division 1 for the Black Cats between the end of March and the end of the season, scoring just the 1 goal.