Poyet: O’Shea perfect role model

Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet has hailed John O’Shea’s leadership skills after watching him make his own way as a captain rather than adopting the Roy Keane approach.

The 33-year-old central defender signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday as the Black Cats tied up the immediate future of a man who has become central to their ongoing project. Poyet was thrilled to have secured the services of a model professional, whose upbringing at Manchester United helped to hone the personality traits which have seen him establish himself as the management’s representative on the pitch.

The Uruguayan said: “It’s the whole thing, definitely the influence of Manchester United because he was there playing with top players, and I am sure he took things from different characters. He cannot imitate – he cannot be his previous captain, Roy Keane – but he can imitate other ones. It’s just to learn and put what you are into the job. He does it naturally, I can tell you, there are no issues.”