It goes without saying the raw youngster has some strides to take before he can be bracketed alongside the Socceroos midfield elite.
But the budding number 8, a revelation for promoted Portsmouth on loan last season before the fates intervened, has a plethora of EPL and Championship clubs – including Pompey and Everton – chasing his signature.
It’s likely his future will be determined in the coming weeks, with a permanent switch from the Eithad – where he’s trained regularly with Pep Guardiola’s first team without making a senior debut – looking inevitable..
It’s not unrealistic to suggest Robertrson, 21, could even be a Premier League player heading into the next big dance, co-hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.
Robertson, whose 23 Pompey appearances seduced fans and teammates alike, Is the owner of an all-round game stratospheric in its scope.
He’s able to operate as a deep lying ball winner, blessed with strength and pace to burst into pockets of space with opponents in his wake and possesses the vision to direct a pass into dangerous areas.
Robertson hasn’t yet developed a ruthless goal knack at senior level, but if he is able to hit the ground running in the Championship in 2024-2025 Graham Arnold may have a gem in his midst.
Asked how important the yoiung gun might be for Australia as they enter the second round of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, Socceroos assistant Rene Meulensteen said: “We’re blessed with some top midfield talent and in Alex’s case he’s probably best suited in an advanced role.
“He was excellent at Portsmouth before his injury and has a lot of football ahead of him.
“We’re very keen to see how he goes next season – it’s important he starts well. Whether that’s at Portsmouth or elsewhere and of course we’re always watching very closely.
“You don’t spend several years on the books at Manchester City, and train with the first team and make the bench on a few occasions without having some excellent qualities.
“If you’re not good enough you wouldn’t even get near to training with such a gifted squad of winners.”
Beyond Robertson, a player with the potential to be generational talent in the green and gold, Meulensteen sees only upside from a gallery of midfield colleagues like Connor Metcalfe, who will feature in the Bundesliga next season alongside Jackson Irvine at St Pauli, a rejuvenated Ajdin Hrustic and Middlesbrough’s Riley McGree.
“We have a lot of strength in those positions and the competition is going to be fierce for starting places leading towards the World Cup,” he added.