O'Shea happy to be a team player

John O’Shea is not concerned where he plays for Manchester United this season - his main worry is just getting into the team.

The 22-year-old Waterford native emerged from obscurity to become one of the most cultured defenders in the Premiership last term.

His reward was a championship-winner’s medal and the Red Devils’ young player of the year award, recognition for his 32 league games, almost four times as many as he had managed in his entire United career before that.

O’Shea, who also broke into Brian Kerr’s national squad on a regular basis, admitted he was slightly surprised at the progress he made.

But he is determined to build on it over the next nine months, no matter what role he is asked to carry out.

A centre-half by preference, O’Shea found himself alongside Rio Ferdinand in the heart of the United defence for their four-match tour of the United States.

However, with Mikael Silvestre returning to the squad for the encounter with Sporting Lisbon last Wednesday, O’Shea moved into the left-back berth which he occupied which such assurity at the end of last season.

“Actually getting in the team is the most important thing for me just now,” he said. “Where I play seems to bother other people more than me.

“I thought I did okay alongside Rio while we were on tour, especially in the games against Juventus and Barcelona when we are playing against very talented strikers.

“Patrick Kluivert in particular was a handful, but the more you play against people like that, the more experience you will get and the better you will cope with it.

“The other option is left-back and if the manager chooses me there, I will be happy. Put it this way, I won’t be telling him to pick me in one position and not in another.

“Anywhere across the back four is fine by me. I don’t find it a problem.”

So far O’Shea remains refreshingly unaffected by his new-found status and is concentrating solely on adding some more silverware to his collection.

He gets an immediate chance to achieve that aim against Arsenal in The FA Community Shield tomorrow, a game which will provide another stern test of his defensive skills.

“They say the second season is the hardest, but, if selected, hopefully I can continue to show what I have done last season and even improve.

“I did surprise myself a little bit last season, but I was always hoping to get that chance, not just over one or two games, but 10 or 12.

“Life has changed a little bit and I feel more part of the squad than I did this time last year.

“But everybody has been really nice to me, especially back home in Ireland. I doubt it will last forever, but hopefully it will keep going for a long time.”

Rather like his fellow Irishman and former United stalwart Paul McGrath, O’Shea has also been mentioned as having the potential to become a midfielder of the future, although even with the departure of Juan Sebastian Veron it is difficult to see an opening in that role for the Waterford-born player.

The area represents one of two major selection headaches for Ferguson ahead of tomorrow’s clash as new signing Eric Djemba Djemba and Nicky Butt battle for the right to partner skipper Roy Keane in the United engine room.

In addition, Brazilian import Klebersen is due to arrive next week providing his work permit is granted on Monday, while Ferguson also has high hopes for O’Shea’s close friend Darren Fletcher, the 19-year-old Scot who made two impressive Champions League appearances for United last term.

“I have known Darren for quite a few years,” said O’Shea.

“I met him the first time I came over to the club. He was about 14 and he was with his mum and dad.

“The manager was showing a keen interest in him then, so he was obviously picked out early on.

“He is showing great form in training and it would be nice to see him do well.”

Ferguson’s other dilemma surrounds the goalkeeping jersey.

New recruit Tim Howard excelled in two appearances on the US tour, while the United boss has admitted Roy Carroll did nothing wrong when given his chance at the back end of last season.

Fabien Barthez also remains in the fold, even though many pundits predicted his departure after he was axed for Carroll following two disappointing performances against Real Madrid.

O’Shea, though, is remaining diplomatic. “All the keepers have shown good form in pre-season,” he said.

“It is a great choice for the manager to have and no matter who he picks the back four will be confident in him.”