Super Eagles nomadic midfielder, Garba Lawal is determined to end his professional career in England as he intensified bid to join a new class of players in the Premiership.

	•Garba Lawal Photo: Sun News Publishing
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The player, popularly called Chindo, is desperate to grab any opportunity that may see him playing in the same league with his friends, Austin Jay Jay Okocha (Bolton), Nwankwo Kanu (West Brom), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Boro), Celestine Babayaro (Newcastle) and Joseph Yobo of Everton.

The player, who managed to record a goal for Nigeria at the last African Cup of Nations in Egypt, has been inspirational to the Greek club, Iraklis Salonika, and is aiming at lacing his boots for a top premiership side if things eventually work out fine for his agent.

Although, the Nigerian international has had good working relationship with Irajlis management after they had resolved to pay him all outstanding debt in their quest to get he best from him this season.

Lawal had threatened to drag his high-flying Greek club to world soccer governing body, FIFA, following their failure to pay his salaries since August last year. They later settled the case after FIFA intervention.

The left-sided midfielder, 31, is at present enjoying himself in Greece but his eyes are permanently on the Premiership clubs.

The minnows have proved the shock package of the Greek championship and currently lie fourth in the Ethniki league behind traditional powerhouses Olympiakos, Panathinaikos and AEK Athens.

Lawal has played an increasingly influential role at the club in recent weeks and put in a fine showing in the 2–0 win over league leaders Olympiakos at the start of the month.

However, the player has been frustrated with the financial restraints at the cash-strapped minnows, who have been unable to pay his wages.

As a result, he will be allowed to leave on a free transfer in the summer and has set his sights on a switch to England.

"It would be a dream to play in England, as the standard of football there is very high," Lawal told skysports.com.

"Obviously it would be nice to play in The Premiership, but there are many good teams in The Championship also and I feel my game would really suit the game over there."

Lawal caught the eye for Nigeria in the recent African Cup of Nations where he scored the winner for the Super Eagles in their 2-1 win over Senegal in the third-place play-off.

He first made his name in European football with Roda JC in Holland where he played under Martin Jol.

He left the Eredivisie outfit in the summer of 2002 and has had something of a nomadic club career since then playing for Levski Sofia, Elfsborg and Santa Clara.

Lawal was said to have approached his friends in Eagles who are in England to help him secure a good club, after complaining to them about the way he was badly treated by the Greek Club.

The utility player has won the hearts of many coaches in the national team as he has refused to quit the stage when the ovation was loudest.

Usually employed on the left of midfield, Lawal has not always been able to hold on to his Nigerian place.

But his long-range effort against Ghana in the African Nations Cup, which moved them into the semi-finals of the tournament, should have put him ahead of his rivals in the attentions of coach Adegboye Onigbinde when he was assemblying his Japan/Korea World Cup team.

He boasts previous World Cup experience in Nigeria's campaign at France ’98.

Much of his club experience has come in Holland at Roda JC, whom he joined in 1996.