Double winner Fergie backs ex-United star for job

ALEX Ferguson has backed John O’Shea to become the next permanent manager of the Republic of Ireland.

After O‘Shea named his squad yesterday for the friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland, Ferguson told Mailsport his former Manchester United stalwart deserves a crack at the job.

Asked if he would like to see O’Shea become the permanent boss, Fergie said, ‘Absolutely.’ ‘John’s a first class man. I spoke to him the other day. I wished him all the best with Ireland,’ said Fergie. Ferguson, 82, had two winners at Cheltenham yesterday, one more than fellow former football manager Harry Redknapp, 77.

Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard and Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku were both named in Domenico Tedesco’s Belgium squad for next week’s trip to Dublin but captain Kevin De Bruyne (left) misses out with a ‘minor groin injury’ while Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also remains sidelined.

Apart from those two notable absentees, the Red Devils will bring a fullstrength squad to Dublin for next Saturday’s friendly in Lansdowne Road before they face England at Wembley three days later. De Bruyne has only returned to full fitness from a fivemonth layoff due to a hamstring tear.

‘We can’t take any risks, especially not with Kevin,’ said the manager, who yesterday signed an extension until the 2026 World Cup. BELGIUM SQUAD (v ireland) — GOALKEEPERS: Arnaud Bodart, Koen Casteels, Thomas Kaminski, Matz Sels. Defenders: Jan Vertonghen, Timothy Castagne, Koni De Winter, Zeno Debast, Wout Faes, Thomas Meunier, Arthur Theate. MIDFIELDERS: Olivier Deman, Dodi Lukebakio, Orel Mangala, Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, Arthur Vermeeren, Aster Vranckx, Jeremy Doku. FORWARDS: Johan Bakayoko, Michy Batshuayi, Charles De Ketelaere, Romelu Lukaku, Loïs Openda, Leandro Trossard.