O’Shea eternally grateful for spell at Bournemouth

John O’Shea will return to Bournemouth tomorrow eternally grateful for the day Alex Ferguson sent him there to toughen him up for the glittering career ahead of him.

The then 18-year-old Manchester United defender was dispatched to Dean Court on a three-month loan deal in 2000 at the start of a near 12-year spell at Old Trafford, which saw him win the Champions League, five league titles and both the FA Cup and League Cup. Tomorrrow, the now Sunderland captain will return to face his former club in the Premier League.

The Irish international said: