Apple TV restore won't work due to lost remote

I have just been forced to restore my Apple TV. I believe it is 3rd gen.

We lost the tv remote some time ago and have a remote app, but we had converted an old tv remote to control the Apple TV.

I can't make any either my remote app or the tv remote control my Apple TV.

I have tried connecting the Apple TV via Ethernet cable but they still won't connect to the Apple tv so that I can set up my Apple TV and use it again.

My ipad is quite old but my daughter has iPhone 6 with a remote app automatically on the phone, but this won't find the Apple TV either. Both iPad and iPhone are connected to the internet that the Apple TV is connected to via Ethernet cable.

Anyone suggest anything?