IN-FORM Liam Lawrence has backed Sunderland to bounce back even stronger should the inevitable happen and the team is relegated at the end of the season.

Lawrence has been one of the few success stories in an otherwise disappointing return to the Premiership for the Wearsiders.

The former Mansfield Town winger has taken the leap - from Football League Two to Coca Cola Championship and now Barclays Premier League - all in his stride and he loving life as a top-flight player despite his side's perilous league position.

"For me and Deano (Dean Whitehead), Stephen Elliott and Danny Collins, we're just buzzing and we want to keep playing in the Premier League," confessed Lawrence. "We don't want to go down and no one wants to get relegated but I'm sure if we go down we'll come straight back up stronger and do well.

"If you can play in this league you've half cracked it. It's probably the best in Europe so to be playing week in, week out and playing well, I'm delighted at the moment.

"I feel at home. I might not look it sometimes but I think I'm handling it quite well.

"Sometimes you do question yourself, I did last year when I came to the club. But once you get a run in the side things start to happen for you. You have to work as hard as you can and try and improve on the training ground."

The 24-year-old wideman admitted no one has thrown in the towel just yet and is optimistic the club can still pull themselves out of their current rut, despite the odds, after taking comfort from the club's spirited performances against Northwich Victoria and Chelsea.

"I know it sounds a bit stupid and people will say 'what's he talking about?' but I still believe we can get out of it.

"We just need some wins, we just need a bit of luck.

"We've had terrible luck, goals conceded in the last minute here and there and the goal against Chelsea was a deflected finish. We've just had no luck recently."

Lawrence certainly has a point. The Black Cats have never had a fair rub of the green on their return to the top flight, with last minute goals proving to be very costly.

In 20 Premier League fixtures, nine have been lost by only a solitary goal; which could have gone either way.

And with the probable exception of Portsmouth's comprehensive 4-1 victory back in October, Sunderland have never been on the end of an embarrassing drubbing such as the one Middlesbrough suffered at the hands of Arsenal last weekend.

"Portsmouth was the worst game for us and the low point in our season," reflected Lawrence. "The fans made their feelings known and we knew we had to put things right. If you give 110 per cent then the fans will get behind you and that's all they ask."

Lawrence also revealed he has international ambitions and hopes his recent good form gets him noticed by the new Republic of Ireland boss Steve Staunton.

Although the midfielder was born in England of English parents he has an Irish grandfather.

"I'd love to be involved with Ireland," said Lawrence, who made it known he has just applied for an Irish passport. "It would be a fantastic challenge for me.

"It's important I concentrate on my career with Sunderland, but if I do that and keep playing well, then it improves my chances of playing international football."

The Black Cats £175,000 signing currently shares the club's leading league goalscorer mantle with Whitehead on three goals and it goes without saying that everyone one of them has been memorable.

Lawrence opened his account in spectacular fashion in the North-East derby against Newcastle at St James Park, with a 20-yard daisy-cutter.

He followed that up with a left foot volley from 18 yards at Fulham, before striking another from the same distance when opening his side's account against champions Chelsea at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

"They've been a bit special and especially the ones on my left duke as well, which has been pleasing. But you've got to take a chance haven't you? And you never know at this level they can fly in and the three I have got have done so."

l Sunderland called an emergency board last night to see if they can raise funds for the signing of Ricardo Cabanas.

It is believed Grasshoppers Zurich will allow their 26-year-old right-sided midfielder go for £500,000.

* Norwich have signed Sunderland midfielder Carl Robinson in a two-and-a-half year deal. The 29-year-old had been on loan at Carrow Road since November and has moved for a fee of £50,000.