O'Shea to stake United claim before Heinze arrival
The Argentina international is not due to begin his stay at Old Trafford until September after being called up for the Olympics as well as the Copa America.
O'Shea is hoping to use the opening weeks of the season to put down a marker.
"I have definitely got to make an impact quickly before Gabriel arrives," he said. "That's the way I have to look at it.
"Gabriel could be a world-beater when he turns up and the club wants to keep improving. The manager doesn't want to go backwards so he brings in quality.
"It is a case of the club wanting to keep moving and you have to keep moving with it. There were some matches last season when I suppose I knew I didn't have that competition. This keeps you on the edge.
"You look at the squad as a whole and it is so fierce for every position that when you get a chance you have to stake your claim.
"It might be just one game you get to show it and then you have to prove why you want that position and if you are good enough to keep that position.
"That's the pressure of being at a massive club like this. The staff has to see how you cope with it."
United captain Roy Keane slammed some of they young players for their attitude last season but O'Shea said: "Nobody said anything to me about getting too big for my boots.
"As a young player I felt I must be involved in Roy's words but I never thought I was too big for my boots because of where I am from and my background. It never occurred to me.
"You have to show why you are at Manchester United and why you deserve to stay there. It's a challenge.
"I have to show why I am in the side and that is a big pressure. I have to show why I was in the team in the first place."
O'Shea returned to action last Sunday in the penalty shoot-out defeat by Bayern Munich after recovering from a minor knee operation.
He believes United have the cutting edge to make a title challenge in the coming season following the arrival of Alan Smith from Leeds.
There will be competition for places up front with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Louis Saha also on board.
O'Shea said: "With the additions to the squad, it is going to be great especially with the strike force we have.
"The FA Cup was a bonus but that wasn't our priority and we let ourselves down in the league and Europe.
"You have to bounce back. We have no divine right to win the Premiership or the Champions League.
"You have to prove yourself to be the best team and last year we weren't," said O'Shea.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
