Irish Daily Mail

O’Shea fearful of finals injury jinx

- by PHILIP QUINN

FIVE months before the European Championsh­ip finals kick off, the Republic of Ireland’s players are increasing­ly aware of what’s hurtling down the TGV tracks.

As their minds drift towards France, Martin O’Neill’s musketeers know how vital it is to stay fit, and to be playing regularly.

Centurion John O’Shea tuned in to the Everton versus Manchester City game in midweek and his antennae twitched at the sight of Seamus Coleman limping off with a bag of ice clutched to his calf.

‘I’m watching the game thinking I shouldn’t be worried about Everton players but I see Seamus (Coleman) go down with a few minutes and you’re thinking ‘I hope it’s not too bad, a bit of cramp’, but they’re saying today he could be (out) for a few weeks.

‘I shouldn’t be worrying about Everton players but there I am, watching the telly and hoping it’s not too bad. But that will be the case for everybody,’ said the Sunderland defender.

O’Shea will be 35 when the finals come around but he remains as keen to serve as he was on his senior debut in August 2001.

‘That was your dream growing up as a kid, to play for your country and try to get to major tournament­s. You’re not just going to give up on those things,’ he said.

O’Shea, who started all three games in the Euro 2012 finals and has been first choice under O’Neill, is eager to play his part in the finals.

‘You’re not going to do it just to turn up, you feel that you have something to offer. That’s the most important thing, that you’re still able to do it on the pitch,’ he said.

It was Keith Fahey’s misfortune to miss out on Euro 2012 with injury and O’Shea is aware a collective clean bill of health can’t be guaranteed.

‘As we as we know from previous campaigns, people will pick up an injury or a little strain, or a niggle,’ he said.

‘It’s a case of where you do your business at your club, you stay fit, you stay strong, (and) hopefully you stay in your team.’

While O’Shea is a regular at Sunderland, and is locked in to make the 23-man squad for the finals, other players are not so fortunate.

At Everton, midfielder­s Aiden McGeady and Darron Gibson no longer figure in the first team plans of Roberto Martinez, while striker Anthony Stokes is also out of favour at Celtic.

While a ring-rusty McGeady may make the cut for the finals, Gibson and Stokes will only turn O’Neill’s head if they find a new home in the transfer window and play regularly between now and the end of the season.

Martinez yesterday indicated he is open to offers for both McGready and Gibson.

‘We have had a lot of interest in Darron Gibson and Aidan McGeady and they are two players that we need to sit down and consider what the next step,’ he said.

‘They need to be playing until the end of the season due to the opportunit­y of playing for Ireland in the Euros,” he added.

‘They deserve to have special attention at this stage of the season.

They haven’t played enough and now is a good opportunit­y to see if the second half of the season can be a good one,’ he added.

Stokes has hardly featured under O’Neill but his goal per game ratio with Celtic is impressive and it is in his favour that there is a dearth of strikers. Celtic manager Ronny Deila is content to let Stokes find new lodgings, according to his assistant coach, John Collins.

‘Anthony and the manager have decided it would be good for him to go and get some game-time,’ Collins said.

‘The player’s not going to go somewhere he doesn’t want to go and we won’t force him, it’ll be his choice.’

Collins, who ruled out a loan bid for McGeady on financial grounds, explained a temporary move would not necessaril­y signal the end of Stokes’s Celtic career, stressing ‘the door is always open.’

‘His attitude in training lately has been very good,’ he said.

‘Hopefully, he’s turned the corner, getting himself in better shape but he needs games.

‘He’s had a few Under 21 games for us but that’s not enough of a challenge for someone of Stokesy’s ability. He needs first-team football,’ said Collins.

For players excused winter football, such as Robbie Keane, there was time to complete his UEFA A Licence coaching badge via the FAI.

‘It has been a long process with a lot of hours put in and I’m delighted to have completed the programme,’ said the Ireland captain. ‘There was a lot more to it than just being out on the pitch coaching players and I’ve had to take on board an enormous amount of informatio­n.’

Celtic, meanwhile, are to give a trial tomorrow to 18-year-old St Pat’s midfielder Darragh Markey.

A full interview with John O’Shea will be broadcast on Newstalk today.

 ?? SPORTSFILE/PA ?? Fitness race: John O’Shea says watching Seamus Coleman limp off (inset) for Everton this week was a stark reminder of the injury minefield ahead
SPORTSFILE/PA Fitness race: John O’Shea says watching Seamus Coleman limp off (inset) for Everton this week was a stark reminder of the injury minefield ahead
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