WORLD CUP QUALIFIER: Republic of Ireland v Montenegro Venue: Croke Park Date: 14 October Kick off: 1900 BST Coverage: Score updates on BBC Radio 5 live and text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobile phones. Live on Sky Sports 2.
Liam Lawrence won his first cap against Nigeria in May
Liam Lawrence is intent on continuing his remarkable journey into international football in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Montenegro.
The Stoke winger impressed on his first competitive start for the Republic of Ireland in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Italy at Croke Park.
Lawrence is hoping to start again despite Damien Duff's availability.
"I have had to work my way up right from the bottom of the league," said Lawrence on Monday.
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.
The Retford-born winger won his third senior cap against the Italians and will hope to make that four when the Irish complete their Group Eight campaign against Montenegro at Croke Park.
When I wasn't involved after the Nigeria game, the manager came and spoke to me and said I was still in his plans
Liam Lawrence
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.
"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 in 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 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.
"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."
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?