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New Oldham boss Stephen Robinson wants to bring in Aaron Hughes

Oldham boss Stephen Robinson wants to instil the traits he saw in Northern Ireland at his new club and his quest will be helped if he can land 103-cap international Aaron Hughes.

Northern Irishman Robinson, 41, vacated his position as part of his country's coaching set-up and his role as Motherwell's number two at the weekend to take up his first managerial post at SportsDirect.com Park.

He was a member of Michael O'Neill's coaching staff at Euro 2016, the nation's first major international tournament for 30 years, and will now forge his own path in the third tier of English football, a level which 36-year-old free-agent Hughes could yet be at next season.

Press Association Sport reported that Robinson is attempting to lure the ex-Newcastle and Fulham defender to Oldham after his contract with Melbourne City expired.

Having spent the bulk of his career in the top flight, Hughes, who played three times at the Euros to help Northern Ireland reach the last 16, may be reluctant to drop down to League One and it is believed he has offers both here and abroad to carry on playing.

However, after an unhappy one-year stint Down Under, his familiarity with Robinson could yet persuade him to link up with the former Northern Ireland coach in his first managerial gig.

"There's a couple of Northern Ireland internationals I'm currently speaking to," Robinson told Press Association Sport.

"I've spoken to one in particular. At this moment in time, he's not going to commit. It's something we're still working on. It would be a massive signing for Oldham."

With or without Hughes, Robinson is keen for his new team to inherit the same characteristics of O'Neill's side.

Latics will start a 20th successive campaign in League One and they have not finished higher than 15th in any of their past seven seasons, though Robinson is no stranger to seeing a team punch above its weight.

Of his Northern Ireland experience, he added: "We had some good players, we hadn't got the best in terms of Germany or Belgium but we did put them in a structure and shape that they overachieved.

"They all have to buy into that and that will take time. People have to see results, that you're making progress, to buy into it.

"Anyone who watched the Euros saw the Northern Ireland fans and the work-rate and effort that the players put in and that's the minimum you can demand off a professional footballer.

"People sitting here would give their right arm to be out on the pitch so you give everything you have, you work hard and that's the basis for every bit of success we've had with Northern Ireland."

Robinson's first phone call after holding discussions with Oldham was to his "mentor" O'Neill, who encouraged him to take the job even though it meant losing him from his backroom team.

However, Robinson stressed he believes the country can reach greater heights still after the Euros, provided O'Neill is not snagged by a club side too.

"As long as they keep hold of Michael, there's a lot more to be achieved; the man can achieve anything he wants in football," he noted.

"It wasn't a case of I think that was as far as we can go. It was more the opportunity of Oldham and managing in League One and being able to put my stamp on things, that was the temptation."

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