Roy Evans was player, coach and manager at Liverpool for 35 years, resigning as joint-manager in 1998 under Gerard Houllier. He went onto become Director of Football at Swindon until October 2001 and has just returned to football as assistant-manager of Wales, one of England’s World Cup qualifying opponents in Group Six

Roy, congratulations on returning to football with Wales. You've known the manager John Toshack for a long time?

He was Liverpool’s centre-forward in the 1970s when the Boot Room was in full swing. Even as a player, he was always thinking about the game.

Sometimes on a Sunday morning, he used to come in to discuss the match with myself and the other coaches. That was unusual I can tell you! It showed a real interest in the game which was very welcome so it hasn’t surprised me at all that he’s done so well as a manager.

I got a phone call out of the blue from John before he went to be interviewed for the Wales job. You can’t go into those things blind and John wanted the Welsh FA to know his outline for the future. So he offered me a post provided he got the job, of course I said yes and it was great news when he was appointed.

Have you started work right away?

I’ve had to even though our first match isn’t until February against Hungary (a friendly). We’ve had a few experienced players like Andy Melville, Gary Speed and Andy Johnson retire from international football so I’ve been busy looking at the next generation coming through.

I was at Crewe v Plymouth on Saturday, one of the reasons was have a look at a young wide player called David Vaughan. We need to look at players but I will also be keeping in touch with the more senior players and have plans to see Birmingham and Aston Villa soon, to see the likes of Robbie Savage and Mark Delaney.

Will it be weird working against England? 

We’ve got a double-header against Austria first and we play England in September. There won’t be any split-loyalties on my part, once you start working for someone your allegiance goes to them. I won’t be thinking of how to help England but how to stop them.

I know one or two of their players quite well like Michael Owen and Steve Gerrard! I know how Steven plays but it doesn’t mean I have a magic answer on how to stop him. England are in the boss seat and they certainly look the best team in the group. We might only have an outside chance of qualifying but we can’t afford to give up hope because there is always a possibility in football.

Were you at Anfield for Liverpool's famous win against Olympiakos?

It reminded me of the 1977 European Cup win against St Etienne, although I don’t think Olympiakos were quite the same standard as the French team.

There was a mountain to climb for Liverpool, and the atmosphere was one of the best I’ve heard at Anfield. It doesn’t half help when you’ve got the crowd on your side like that when you are chasing three goals to go through.

I don’t think Liverpool will care too much who they draw in the next stage, you aren’t going to be able to choose a weak side in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Perhaps it’s true Liverpool aren’t quite at the level of Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United but it’s amazing what you can do once you get a foothold in the competition. I remember Leeds United a few years ago, picking up confidence as the tournament progressed and they reached the semi-finals. I don’t see why Liverpool shouldn’t try to emulate them particularly when one or two injuries start coming back.