O’NEILL A BELIEVER IN O’SHEA

MARTIN O’NEILL is backing John O’shea to continue to do the business when a new Sunderland contract is confirmed for the Ireland veteran.

O’shea (above), who turned 36 last month, is expected to sign on for another year with the Black Cats after a hugely disappointing season for the club ended in Premier League relegation.

He will be heading into his 19th year in England as a pro. O’shea made his debut for Man United in a League Cup defeat of Aston Villa in October 1999. Ireland boss O’neill has nothing but admiration for the Waterford man after he agreed to stay on for the current World Cup qualification campaign and how he dealt with his demotion to the bench during last summer’s Euro 2016 finals. Such is his admiration for O’shea that O’neill is guaranteeing that dropping to the Championship won’t affect the centre-half’s standing in the Ireland camp.

“Our squad is made up of a lot of Championship players,” said the Ireland supremo (inset).

“If John does get the extra year and plays, John will have the enthusiasm to play.

“And do you know what, play as long as you can - that would be my advice to him anyway for a start if he has to drop down the Championship.”

O’shea came under fire by Match of the Day panellists Alan Shearer and Ian Wright after his side’s 2-0 defeat to Swansea last week.

Shearer labelled the centre-half’s performance “pathetic” but O’neill insists the hugely experienced O’shea still has much to add to the Ireland squad as they prepare for the World Cup qualifier with Austria on June 11.

The Ireland boss made that clear by starting with O’shea in the scoreless qualifier against Wales in Dublin March – his 116th senior international appearance – as the boys in green were stretched for defensive personnel.

“You don’t have someone around the squad because he’s a nice lad,” said O’neill. “But John is a really good influence – a really positive influence – on the lads, and I don’t just mean the younger lads. And it’s good to have him around.”