Bobby Robson has urged the Republic of Ireland players to turn back the clock and recapture their feelings of youth when all they wanted was to play for their country.

Ireland’s International Football Consultant appeared at home in his new surroundings, even if it was strange a man who wore the crest of England’s Three Lions for eight years as manager was now sporting the Republic badge.

But it is one Robson intends to wear with honour after finding a role to his liking following 16 months searching for an avenue back into the game he loves in the wake of his sacking as Newcastle boss.

"It’s obviously strange," smiled Robson, now 73, ahead of Ireland’s friendly with Sweden at Lansdowne Road on Wednesday. "I never thought it would happen to me, but it has and it feels good because I’m just delighted to return to football and at the highest level.

"I had it for eight years with England, and it’s wonderful. It suits me, although I’ll love it even more if we get results."

So if Robson can show pride in being a stranger in a strange land, he is expecting the players to give their all for the country they play for. That is the minimum requirement, simple desire in wanting to wear the green of Ireland, just as he feels certain they experienced when they were kids.

"No matter what era and whoever is coach, passion is vital," stated Robson, who stood alongside new manager Steve Staunton as the first training session passed without incident.

"You have to get maximum potential from your players, so whatever they have, you have to get it from them and they have to give it. Passion, enthusiasm, attitude and commitment are vital to us. They are so important because if a team is better than you, that kind of psychological back-up can make up the difference.

"For example, I saw Colchester play Chelsea the other day and for 80 minutes they were magnificent. In the end they couldn’t sustain the pace and power like Chelsea. But for those 80 minutes they were fantastic, and that wasn’t just on quality, but on honest endeavour and of being unafraid.

"So we have to get from the players that determination, that desire to play for their nation. The players just have to remember back when they were kids because at seven years of age I didn’t want to play for any club, I wanted to play for England. So I would tell them not to forget that, how they felt when they were seven years old.

"Whatever age they might be now, they should feel that same desire for wanting to play for their country. If we get that we’ll have a chance, if we don’t we’ve no chance, but I’m sure we will get it."

Robson has revealed Staunton is planning to experiment against the Swedes, while he will be in the stands looking on, rather than in the dugout.

"I’m going to sit upstairs, and I quite like it there, getting a bird’s eye view and seeing the whole picture," added Robson. "We’ve talked about keeping in radio contact, and it’s something we are looking into. I might have a runner.

"But Stan would like me to be in the dressing room at half-time because I might see things he can’t and point them out to him and the players."

For now, one of Robson’s main concerns is attempting to integrate himself into the Irish set-up because at one stage he corrected himself when he said ‘we’, only to realise that is the way ahead.

"I have to get used to saying ‘we’ and that ‘we’re in it together’," amended Robson. "Jackie \[Charlton] never said ‘you lot’. He said ‘us lot’, and that’s something I have to remember because I work for the FAI, and nobody else."