DENNIS LAWRENCE is setting his sights on a place in next year’s World Cup finals.
The Wrexham centre-back has been called into the Trinidad and Tobago squad for his country’s two final group qualifying matches.
The Soca Warriors are away at Panama (October 8th) and host Mexico (October 12th) and need favourable results to hoist themselves up into fourth place in the six-team group.
That would set-up a play-off with an Asian qualifier with the winners going to Germany next summer for the finals and though Trinidad, currently fifth, have still got work to do, Lawrence admitted reaching football's most prestigious event would be special.
“I am very proud to play for my country and I would love to go to the World Cup finals with Trinidad,” Lawrence said today.
“These are two important games for us and we still have got a chance of reaching the play-off going into the matches. Fourth place is between us and Guatemala, who are one point ahead but hopefully we can go out and do enough to reach the play-off.
“For someone like Trinidad and Tobago, who have been competing against the likes of Mexico who are much bigger in stature, to get to the World Cup finals would be some achievement.”
Despite talk of a dream finals place, Lawrence, who encountered a nightmare return journey back to the United Kingdom the last time he was on international duty, is firmly focused on Wrexham returning to winning ways at Leyton Orient on Saturday.
Wrexham were beaten 2-0 at Lincoln on Tuesday after two successive home victories and Lawrence said the Reds have to bounce back.
“After the result on Tuesday, we have to put that behind us and go and get a result at Leyton Orient,” said Lawrence.
“If we stick together, play as a team and to our capability, we can do something at Orient because the experience and ability is there. We know it won’t be easy because Orient are up there and a good team. We just have to play our own game.
“I only realised yesterday that we had still not won away this season. That is really surprising because we have always had a good away record.”
Lawrence will line up at Leyton Orient, but his co-defender Andy Holt won’t.
“Andy’s out,” said Reds’ boss Denis Smith today.
Holt limped off two minutes before the break at Sincil Bank with a thigh strain.
Goalkeeper Michael Ingham also took a knock, injuring his calf.
“I’ll know more about Mike’s injury later today,” added Smith, who already has enough injury problems to contend with.
“It’s the usual suspects who will be out on Saturday and I can’t believe our luck.
“All the reports I get on teams show them using the same 111, week in, week out. We’re just throwing teams together.
“Last season was ridiculous with the amount of injuries we had. But the same thing is happening this time.”