Lawrence fit for action

New boy Liam Lawrence has given Mick McCarthy good news by declaring himself fit for the coming season.

Lawrence, who signed for us from Mansfield, damaged his ankle ligaments during the pre-season tour of America and was expected to miss about the first two weeks of the new season.

But he returned to training today and announced he's on course for kicking a ball in anger from the first day of the season.

He could play as early as the club's final friendly at Doncaster this Sunday but McCarthy may well prefer to rest him in anticipation of the first League game at Coventry's Highfield Road on 7th August.