LAWAL: CALL-UPS WORTH SACRIFICE

BOSUN LAWAL was about to head off on holiday to Malta when John O'Shea phoned and asked if he fancied Luxembourg instead.

- BY PAUL O'HEHIR

The getaway was all booked but the Stoke City star knew he couldn't turn down another opportunity to represent his country at this level.

Not least when the Irish management team were showing so much faith in a young player who only made eight appearances last season because of a serious back injury.

But Heimir Hallgrimsson and O'Shea have high hopes for the onetime Corduff ace who was compared to Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer earlier this summer.

Lawal was a late call-up for June's forgettable no-score bore in Luxembourg, just like he was a year before for the 2-1 friendly win over Saturday's opponents Hungary.

That was under O'Shea, who was caretaker manager at the time.