Liam Lawrence is intent on completing a remarkable journey after reaching a watershed in his career. The 27-year-old Stoke midfielder has travelled a winding road from Mansfield to within touching distance of the World Cup finals, and he is not finished yet.
Released by Nottingham Forest as a schoolboy and later discarded by then Sunderland manager Roy Keane, he has had to fight throughout his career to get to where he wants to be.
But on Saturday evening, he and his Republic of Ireland team-mates very nearly pulled off a shock victory over World Cup holders Italy as Lawrence passed another test of his football education.
The Retford-born winger won his third senior cap against the Italians and will hope to make that four on Wednesday night when Ireland complete their Group Eight campaign against Montenegro at Croke Park.
In the process, he will endeavour to keep himself firmly in manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s mind as he plans for next month’s play-off, in which his inclusion would represent another significant achievement in an eventful few years.
Lawrence said: “I was released from Forest as a young kid at 14. Mansfield took me on and I have never looked back, really.
“I went to Sunderland from there, but players sometimes need a wake-up call when they are released from bigger clubs.
“I have had to work my way up right from the bottom of the league, but thankfully now I am where I want to be.
“The last couple of years have been fantastic for me. I have got my head down at Stoke and done really well.
“I have got the call again now, so I am just trying to hold on to my place and keep getting called up to the squads and see what happens.”
Lawrence had been involved in previous Ireland squads, but was not handed his debut until Trapattoni drafted him in for the friendly against Nigeria at Craven Cottage at the end of May.
But it was his second appearance for his country against South Africa last month which persuaded the Italian he could do a job for him.
His stunning free-kick saw off the World Cup final hosts at Thomond Park and when Damien Duff reported for the Italy game with a calf injury, it was Lawrence to whom the manager turned.
The midfielder had been waiting for his chance and had no intention of passing it up.
He said: “When I was doing well, I was just hoping and praying that the call would come, and eventually it did. I was absolutely delighted, and so was my family.
“When I wasn’t involved after the Nigeria game, the manager came and spoke to me and said I was still in his plans, so I had to believe what he said.
“Luckily, he was true to his word. I just kept my head down in training and tried to do well at Stoke and see what happened, and thankfully I am back again.”
