EDIN Rahic believes that Tyrell Robinson’s progress with City proves their plan to promote more young players is working.

Robinson’s form has been rewarded with a new deal that will tie him to Valley Parade until the summer of 2020.

The 20-year-old has played 14 times for City, scoring the winners for Stuart McCall’s side against Wigan and Rochdale, and was attracting admiring glances from other clubs.

Rahic said: “It shows our project, our strategy, is going the right way.

“If you go for eight or nine young players, you can’t bring them all through in the first year.

“We started with Omari Patrick. He has had a small dip but showed in the first few games that he is a really good player.

“We extended his contract and now we’ve done that with Tyrell. The pressure is on for the next one.

“If we bring three or four through a year, that will be brilliant. That will be success.

“We gave a lot of young players a chance in the summer to get into the first team.

“If the others don’t work hard, then they are not the right players. They haven’t got the right mentality.”

Robinson initially found it tough to adapt to the full-time demands at City. But Rahic felt that has just spurred him on to show that he could make the grade.

He told the T&A: “I don’t think Tyrell had ever trained that hard and he struggled in the fitness tests.

“But he showed it is possible that if you still push forward and work hard, you have a chance. He is the best example for our project.

“It was a wake-up call for him at first and he knew had to change. He has had to live like a professional and work hard like a professional.

“You have such a young player he needs support from the beginning.

“It’s not like a race horse. You have to train him, give him the right nutrition and even give him a hug if he is struggling.

“It can be difficult in the beginning. But then if you have massive support from Stuart, Greg (Abbott), development manager Sam Collins and from me, it is possible if you are prepared to work.”

A natural left winger, Robinson is also combining his game with defensive duties as an attacking full back – a role that still utilises his pace.

“He learns very quick,” said Rahic. “As a proper left winger, to play left back or wing back you have to make the right decisions.

“You see he improves from game to game and his speed is fantastic. The big criteria with Greg when we go for young players is speed.

“This is a real reward for his performances. Tyrell appreciates this and it shows what a club we are.

“We give him a chance. He’s paid a little bit back in the beginning and now with this contract, he needs to show he can reach the next level.

“We’re confident he can do that as long as he works hard and listens to us.”