The 74-year-old, who is Ireland's national football adviser, has battled the illness for a number of years. "I am doing alright. I think the word is I am fighting," he told Irish public broadcaster RTE.

"I am coping with it and I am getting on with my life. I am not sitting at home vegetating," he said.

Robson was brought in as a consultant to the Irish squad in 2006 to offset the inexperience of national coach Steve Staunton who, despite being a veteran of three World Cups as a player, had never coached a team by himself.