Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE, GROUP B4
WALES new-boy James Lawrence admits he is on a crash course to learn the national anthem and swot up on British football.
The Anderlecht defender had never even been to Wales before his surprise call-up. But his father alerted the FAW to his availability after informing them Lawrence’s grandmother is from Wales.
Now the uncapped defender could make his debut for Ryan Giggs’ men in their crunch Nations League tie with Denmark tomorrow.
It is the latest step in his unusual route to the top since failing to make the grade at Arsenal and QPR.
Lawrence then went to Europe and played for the Ajax youth team before moving to Slovakia for first-team football ahead of a switch to Anderlecht in the summer.
But he had never visited the land of his Pembrokeshire-born gran until this week. The 26-year-old said: “I can’t say it’s too different from everywhere else that I’ve been.
“I’ve been to a lot of countries and had to adjust to new things, so this is another step for me.
“It’s been really good so far with the training camp and meeting up with all the players.
“My grandmother was born in Haverfordwest and her family goes back generations there.
“She’s coming up to Cardiff on Friday to see the game, to see me again.
“It’s a huge deal and they’re all very proud.
“I haven’t spoken to her yet but I’ve had the Welsh anthem on.
“I’m starting to learn and hopefully I’ll do that. I’ve listened to it quite a lot and
thought it was one of the best national anthems out there.”
Oxfordshire-born Lawrence left London when his parents Steve and Lynne moved to Amsterdam 10 years ago.
But he has now returned to the UK to play for Giggs’ squad and added: “My dad got in touch with the Football Association of Wales and said, ‘He’s eligible to play for Wales, so why don’t you have a look at him?’.
“Playing for a highprofile club like Anderlecht, it obviously helped playing regular football there and with the scouting.
“They came and watched me this season and some games last season. That’s how it came about and they decided I was someone worth calling up.”
Wales’ squad must have known little about Lawrence before his arrival but the feeling was mutual.
He revealed: “I’m not that familiar with English football, like the Premier League and the Championship.
“I don’t follow it that much, so you could say it was all a bit of a learning curve for me coming in and learning who’s who and things like that
“But it’s fine, it’s always nice to come into a new squad, especially when you’ve all got the same goal and everyone is focused on the game on Friday.”
The withdrawal of Brentford’s Chris Mepham with injury means Lawrence is likely to make his debut either tomorrow or in Tuesday’s friendly in Albania.