Boost for Ireland as O’Shea set to join squad for qualifiers

JOHN O’SHEA will travel to Dublin today to link up with his Irish international colleagues despite a hamstring scare in Manchester United’s Premiership victory over Fulham.

Man Utd manager Alex Ferguson told O'Shea to cut back on his work rate in the second half and concentrate on his defensive work because of a tight hamstring.

However Ireland's management team were optimistic last night that O'Shea's problem was not serious enough to threaten his involvement in Ireland's European Championship games against Georgia and Albania.