With a little help from your friends

BEST news of the week is that Bobby Robson can resume his role at Steve Staunton’s side.

Whether the arrangement can actually reap tangible rewards for Irish football is still a moot point but Robson’s return to the game he loves and recovery from yet another serious health setback, are reasons to be cheerful.

And while, up until now, his hands-on role in the Ireland set-up may have been severely limited, there is reason to believe the support he gave Staunton by telephone in the torrid days between the games against Cyprus and the Czech Republic, was invaluable.

After all, Robson knows a thing or two about staying upright in a whirlwind of criticism and abuse. For this was the England manager who survived a ferocious going over in the press in the run-up to Italia 90 — and then had the last laugh by taking his team, Gazza and all, to the semi-finals.

Anyone who wants to know just how brutal the pressure on an international manager can be, is advised to read ‘All Played Out’, Pete Davies’ fly-on-the-wall account of Italia 90.