Carsley: O’Shea will become a jewel in defence for Ireland

MANCHESTER UNITED’S John O’Shea is set to become the linchpin of Ireland’s international defence, Everton’s Lee Carsley believes.

United beat Everton 3-0 at Old Trafford on Monday and Carsley said that O'Shea, who was centre-back alongside Laurent Blanc, had confirmed the impression he had formed of the Waterford-born defender.

"You are often too busy with your own game to be able to form an opinion of an opponent unless you go head-to-head," Carsley said, "and sometimes it is not the hardest thing to do to impress when you play with a team as good as Man Utd.