O’Shea not a retiring type of guy - but his Cats future is unclear

JOHN O’Shea is unlikely to hang up his boots at the end of the season according to Chris Coleman - although whether he earns a new contract at Sunderland at the age of 37 remains to be seen. A story in Ireland this week has suggested O’Shea

(pictured left) is ready to retire from playing when his contract on Wearside expires at the end of the season - but that report is understood to be incorrect.

Black Cats’ boss Coleman says he believes skipper O’Shea - who turns 37 next month - wants to continue playing for at least another year.

He said: “I have not had a conversation with him.

“I heard something about reports ofhis retirement but I don’t think he has any intention at all of retiring at the end of the season.

“His contract is up here, that is the case with five players, but there have been no discussions on that.

“John will play on I think, he will want to play somewhere for longer than this season.”

Coleman is a big admirer of O’Shea, not only for his contribution on the field but also the way he leads by example off the field. He added: “It is not just his 90 minutes on a Saturday, it is the way he trains, he acts, the way he deals with younger players - he is very important.

“Nothing lasts forever, we all know that, but at the minute we very much need him.”

O’Shea joined Sunderland from Manchester United in 2011 on a fouryear contract and in 2014 signed a two-year extension until 2017.