MAYBE it’s the festive spirit, but it’s getting harder and harder to conduct a serious interview at Wanderers these days.

Even on an occasion that the subject matter lurched towards the serious – a rarity considering the way things have been going on the pitch this season – there is always a player or member of staff passing by to chip in with a witty remark to lighten the mood.

One of the ringleaders, Paul Robinson, stops to talk to the assembled press about the upcoming Sunderland game, his rollercoaster relationship with Black Cats boss Steve Bruce, and the goal celebrations that seem to have been getting wackier by the week.

But with every question comes a smart remark, prompting another burst of laughter from all involved.

There’s something of the Crazy Gang ethos about Owen Coyle’s squad, so with smiles etched permanently on faces, it’s no wonder the Whites are finding life in the top reaches of the Premier League child’s play.

The banter was flowing thick and fast yesterday afternoon as the squad coach departed Euxton for the North East, where they will face seventh-placed Sunderland this lunchtime.

It sees Robinson reunited with Bruce, a man with whom he has had his ups and downs in the last few years.

“He’s tried to sign me a couple of times but it hasn’t worked,” said the full-back, who is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance at the Reebok at present.

“Tell Brucie to give me a call,” Coyle chips in, with perfect timing on the way back to his office.

Properly composed, the 31-year-old was able to offer a more full explanation.

“I think Steve sees me as a player he’s liked over the years but it’s never happened,” he said. “You get on with it because you’re contracted to the team you play for.

“I think I came very close when he was at Wigan but there were parts of the deal that just weren’t happening. We left it in the end.

“I stayed at West Brom and got my head down. There were stories going round that I’d had certain knee injuries but I’ve never had a bad one in my career, so I don’t know where that comes from.

“I’m still playing and not complaining.”

It hasn’t always been so cordial between Robinson and Bruce, however, particularly after a Birmingham-West Brom derby four years ago in which the then-Blues boss slated the defender for a “horror show” challenge that left Damien Johnson with a broken jaw.

“Me and Damien had that mishap, where Damien came of quite seriously injured,” Robinson explained. “Steve pointed the finger at me as if it was intentional and I know it wasn’t. It was just one of those things that happen when you go into a tackle.

“Steve had the right to have a go because it’s his team and his player he was trying to protect and I understand his reasoning for saying it. At the time I thought some of the wording was a little bit harsh. It was not a nice thing to read in the papers or for your kids to have their dad labelled as one of those people. It wasn’t nice.

“He tried to sign me after that. I wasn’t given permission to speak to him at the time but eventually we cleared the air, done and dusted. They are things you want to put to the side straight away.”

Playing his best football since arriving at the Reebok two summers ago, Robinson has featured in every minute of every game for Wanderers this season.

And that has given him plenty of opportunity to hone goal celebrations, which have become increasingly intricate.

Against Blackburn last weekend we saw him swan dive on top of a pile of players, before a more complex routine involving Stuart Holden - a nod to a game played in training.

“The celebrations are a bit of fun,” he said. “The one with me and Stu is a bit of banter from the changing rooms. It will be kept secret between the players – but you will see it again.

“With the dive, I did think about landing on top of one of them. But I thought I might hurt someone, so I had to miss them.

“It was a brilliant picture. It looks like I was doing the aeroplane.”

Win or lose at the Stadium of Light, Robinson knows he’s in for an earful after the final whistle.

While a section of his family are Sunderland supporters, their stick will be nothing compared to the grilling he gets from his three young sons Luke, aged eight, Jamie, aged four, and Archie, aged two.

“The ones that abuse me are my family,” he said. “There’s three or four of them, which is enough to make themselves heard and also to egg on other people.

“It happens regularly with my lot, especially if we lose at home. I get an earful from my boys.

“They always ask ‘what happened daddy?’ and like to keep in touch with the game. It’s brilliant for me knowing they love the game and even though they are not there, knowing they are listening on the radio or watching on the telly. They are getting involved at a young age.”

At that point, Holden interjected with a passable impression as he headed through to the club canteen, sparking another chorus of laughter.

“That’s the kind of banter we have,” Robinson retorted. “Stu will learn when he gets to 500 games. He’s got to stop getting injured first, though.”