SOCCER:ALEX FERGUSON has confirmed John O'Shea will get the reward for all his patience by confirming him as a starter for Manchester United in next week's Champions League final.
Although it is nearly a decade since O’Shea made his United debut at Aston Villa, the Republic of Ireland international has rarely been a regular in Ferguson’s first-choice line-up.
Yet, with Patrice Evra ruled out for various stages of the season through injury and suspension, O’Shea has made frequent appearances at left-back this term. And, when Gary Neville joined Wes Brown on the injury list later in the campaign, Ferguson turned to O’Shea’s experience when he did not feel teenage Brazilian Rafael was the right man for the job.
Now the United manager has assured O’Shea of his place in the side that will tackle Barcelona in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. “John takes his place in Rome because he deserves it,” said Ferguson.
“Because of the injuries to Gary Neville and Wes Brown, he has become a permanent fixture. He is ahead of everyone now.”
O’Shea has never been one of the most talked about players in the United squad, although he has not been short of admirers elsewhere and it is a fair bet the Waterford-born star could have moved on if he had chosen to do so.
Instead, he preferred to battle on with the Old Trafford outfit, for whom he has now made 341 appearances, including a few minutes in goal when Edwin van der Sar got injured at Tottenham in 2007 after Ferguson had used all his three substitutes.
An unused substitute in last year’s penalty shoot-out triumph against Chelsea, it appeared O’Shea was destined to remain a bit-part player until this season’s dramatic turn of events.
“To my mind John is one of the unsung heroes like we had when Denis Irwin was here,” said Ferguson. “We used to say Denis was an eight out of 10 player every week but didn’t get the celebrity status of a lot of Manchester United players. John O’Shea falls into the same category. He can play anywhere for me and has done, all across the back four and in midfield. He has even played in goal.
“His performances have improved simply because he has been playing consistently. He is a fantastic type of person. He is well mannered and well brought up. He is an intelligent lad with a great work rate. I am really pleased for him.”
Rio Ferdinand has revealed there is “no chance” of him not being fit enough to start the Champions League final despite Ferguson’s assertion the defender’s involvement is in serious doubt because of a calf injury. “I’m fine,” Ferdinand said last night. “I have trained with the ball today and done some running, so I’m doing all the movements I need to be doing before a game. I haven’t even thought about not playing in the final. It’s as simple as that.”
The player’s optimistic assessment was in stark contrast to Ferguson’s take on the subject a few hours earlier when he told journalists, including many from Spain, Ferdinand might not be able to start against Barcelona because of the problem that has led to him missing the last three matches. Ferguson spoke about the possibility of Jonny Evans partnering Nemanja Vidic in Rome and said Ferdinand would not be ready for the starting XI unless he proved his fitness in Sunday’s game at Hull City.
