AS cup run fairytales go, Stephen Robinson has seen it, done it and bought the t-shirt with a handful of Euros.

Only last summer, the man now at the helm at Motherwell was adventuring across France with Northern Ireland. Part of Michael O'Neill's coaching staff, Robinson was an integral part of the group that inspired a nation and captivated a continent on the way to the last 16 of the Euros.

The transformation from European minnows with no luck into the ultimate underdog has since become one of international football's modern day success stories.

At club level, Robinson is attempting to do the same as he takes his Motherwell team to Dingwall tonight in the pursuit of Betfred Cup glory.

“We are probably similar in terms of the world game to what Motherwell are in Scotland," he said. "We had three to four thousand fans with Northern Ireland then all of a sudden it’s 20,000 all-sell out new stadium and playing in the last 16 of the Euros.

“It’s achievable. There’s no doubt anything is achievable in football if you believe in it. When you win football matches it creates and interest and that’s what we are trying to do."

The highlight of Northern Ireland's time in France was defeating Ukraine 2-0 in Lyon, but even the way they topped Group F in qualifying by just losing one game was enough to be a major achievement in itself.

On the back of Motherwell going through their Betfred Cup group unbeaten on the way to facing Ross County, Robinson is hoping for better luck in a last 16 round this time.

He said: “We went from winning one game in 10 to all of a sudden this amazing run that Michael and the players put together, it was amazing to be part of.

“You saw the belief build. Players and fans both believed and the entire country got behind them. It is achievable if you have that mentality where nothing else matters apart from the people in your group.

“You can use it to inspire the players here, definitely. I think the comparison of Northern Ireland getting to the last 16 is Motherwell winning the Premiership. It was a massive, massive achievement.

“I’m certainly not going to say Motherwell are going to win the Premiership but we can definitely have a good season and we can surprise people to try and get a cup run.

“If we use the Northern Ireland mentality where nothing on the outside matters and have a group of staff that totally believe in what you are doing, then you can do good things. That’s what we are trying to create."

Robinson added: “A cup run for us is massive. We are well aware of the importance of it. It brings more money into the club, it gives me the chance to improve people’s contracts and keep them here, and also to strengthen the squad.

“We have done well so far to top the group and get to the next stage but now comes a tougher game. We are well aware how importance it would be to get a result."

Gael Bigirimana will be back in the squad to face Ross County but Motherwell may be without left winger Elliot Frear who went off injured against Rangers on Sunday.