Lawrence eager to take on Italian job

LIAM LAWRENCE is targeting a starting place in Ireland’s decisive tussle with Italy on Saturday.

The Stoke midfielder wants to take advantage of manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s selection problems – which includes a calf injury to Fulham winger Damien Duff – following his terrific match-winning free-kick in a friendly against South Africa last month and says he would give “almost anything” to play at Croke Park next Saturday night. “I hear there are a couple of injuries knocking around the squad so I’ll hopefully be in with a chance,” he said.

“To play against Italy in front of 80,000 people would be something else and, if we can beat them, we would have a great chance of qualifying for the finals.”