Folan targets place in World Cup finals

CALEB FOLAN has set his sights firmly on the World Cup finals in South Africa after being handed his big chance by Giovanni Trapattoni.

The 26-year-old Hull striker completed a remarkable rise to prominence when, barely a month after making his senior international debut for the Republic of Ireland as a late substitute in the qualifying victory over Cyprus, he was handed a first start against Poland on Wednesday night.

Folan’s international progress has been spectacular – he has started only two games for his club to date this season, and caught Trapattoni’s eye in the recent Ireland B fixture against Nottingham Forest.