Injured O’Shea eager to play in Croatia friendly

JOHN O’SHEA, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, has been in touch with Giovanni Trapattoni to say that he wants to join up with the Irish squad for the friendly against Croatia on August 10.

Trapattoni had been prepared to leave the Sunderland man out, with a view to ensuring that the defender would be fit for the crucial European Championship qualifiers against Slovakia and Russia in September.

Encouragingly too for the Ireland manager, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has also said that he is confident that O’Shea will be fit for the Black Cats’ opening game of the Premier League, against Liverpool on August 13.

O’Shea, who picked up the injury in pre-season having moved from Old Trafford to the Stadium of Light, will now be assessed by the FAI’s medical staff in Dublin but will only feature against Croatia if Trapattoni is convinced he is definitely over the injury.

“With a muscular injury you don’t want to take any risks,” said Trapattoni this weekend, “particularly with Slovakia and Russia in mind.”

At the same time, the manager is keen to emphasise the importance of the Croatia game as much-needed warm-up for the bigger tests to come.

“The game will be really important for us in giving the players a chance to have a run-out and also to look at some other options,” he said. “But the most important thing from the European Championship point of view, is that it will be good preparation and build-up for the two decisive games of qualification — against Slovakia and Russia.

“We also want the players to become men, to be responsible and to take this opportunity — because we have a fantastic opportunity to qualify. It’s really within our grasp.”