O’Shea likely to miss play-off showdown

STEVE BRUCE has revealed John O’Shea is likely to miss the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 play-off against Estonia through injury.

The defender was forced off in Sunderland’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa last weekend after suffering a recurrence of the hamstring problem which severely truncated his pre-season.

Last night Bruce said O’Shea will definitely miss the trip to former employers Manchester United on Saturday and added he will be out of action for up to three weeks.

“O’Shea is pretty straightforward, it looks like a normal hamstring [injury], grade one, two to three weeks [out] we would have thought,” Bruce said.

Given the first leg takes place in Tallinn in eight days time with the decisive return leg at the Aviva just four days later, the chances of O’Shea being available appear slim.

To add to Ireland’s woes Darren O’Dea, a possible replacement for O’Shea, is struggling with injury and missed Leeds United’s clash against Blackpool last night.

The injury problems are not limited to the defence.

Striker Kevin Doyle is suspended for the first leg while fellow frontman Shane Long is battling to overcome a knee injury.