O’Shea not setting return date

JOHN O’SHEA is refusing to set a comeback date even though he is edging closer to full fitness.

The defender has been out since November after suffering complications in his recovery from a dead leg he picked up during the latter stages of the Republic of Ireland’s controversial World Cup play-off defeat to France in November.

A blood clot caused such a significant setback that Alex Ferguson recently claimed O’Shea, pictured right, would be out of action for the remainder of the campaign before subsequently pulling back from that stance.

However, while O’Shea is happy with the way things have gone, he is refusing to rush.

“It is progressing very well. I have been doing some running on the water treadmill and the normal treadmill and I have not had any setbacks yet,” he said.

“The strength is improving. It is nearly 85% in my right leg. Once it is over 90 and nudging up towards 95 it is all systems go.

“But I am not going to set myself a target because it just adds to the speculation.’’