O'Shea determined to fight for place

John O’Shea has insisted he is going nowhere despite speculation linking him with a move away from Manchester United.

The stylish Irishman has seen his first-team opportunities drastically reduced following the arrival of Gabriel Heinze and has not started a Premiership game since the 1-1 home draw with Middlesbrough at the beginning of October.

At one stage, the 23-year-old was shunted into central midfield as Alex Ferguson looked for a solution to his early-season injury crisis, but that experiment appears to have been abandoned.

O’Shea was an unused substitute for Saturday’s 3-0 win at West Brom but he is expected to turn out in central defence on Wednesday as United look to book a Carling Cup semi-final spot at the expense of Arsenal.

The rumour-mill has been suggesting the Waterford-born player will not be around to play in them even if the Red Devils do get through, with Newcastle regarded as one potential destination.

However, O’Shea has been quick to quell the transfer talk, insisting that, after 132 appearances, he has no intention of quitting Old Trafford at any stage in the near future.

“There is no way I am leaving Old Trafford,” he told MUTV.

“I am definitely staying, without a doubt, and, fingers crossed, I will be here for a long time to come. When you are playing for Manchester United, you are going to face pressure. I have faced it before, no doubt I will face it again in the future.

“What you have to do is make sure when you get a chance, you put the manager under pressure not to leave you out.”