O’Shea, Fletcher sign new deals

IT IS two down and one to go in the contract stakes for Manchester United after John O’Shea and Darren Fletcher committed their futures to Old Trafford until 2009.

Confirmation the young duo had finally signed the contracts which were verbally agreed before the new season got underway leaves just Cristiano Ronaldo to end the long-running debate over his short-term career plans.

It was originally intended the 20-year-old Portugal international would sign once United returned from their pre-season training camp at the beginning of June.

That deadline passed, as have a few others, although Ferguson insisted there are no major issues to be resolved.

“There are just some small details to finalise,” he revealed.

While confirmation that Fletcher and O’Shea were staying put is no surprise, Ferguson sees the development as crucial to his vision for United’s future.

Both men have become first team regulars over the past few seasons, with O’Shea able to fill every defensive position and operate in midfield, where Fletcher is starting to fulfil the promise he showed as a 16-year-old.

Fletcher’s presence in the United line-up at Sunderland today could depend on whether Ferguson thinks Park Ji-Sung’s legs will hold out after the South Korean’s outstanding performance for his country in their friendly win over Iran in Seoul on Wednesday.

O’Shea can be more certain of his place as Ferguson has just five defenders available, two of whom, Phil Bardsley and Gerard Pique, have yet to start a Premiership game.

Kieran Richardson, who has been impressive at left-back, has joined Gary Neville, Gabriel Heinze, Quinton Fortune, Wes Brown and Roy Keane on the injured list after Ferguson confirmed the youngster is suffering from a thigh injury which will rule him out for up to 10 days.

Richardson limped out of England training on Monday and Tuesday with the problem, although an expected blast from Ferguson over England’s handling of the player never materialised.