Republic of Ireland defender John O’Shea is fighting to be fit for the second leg of the Euro 2016 play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina after suffering a recurrence of his hamstring injury – but according to Sam Allardyce Ireland should be preparing without him.
The 34-year-old Sunderland skipper has not played since limping off during the derby victory over Newcastle on October 25th, and was missing from the starting line-up for Saturday’s Premier League defeat to Southampton.
Following Sunderland’s 1-0 defeat, manager Allardyce said O’Shea would not be fit in time to play for Ireland: “No, I don’t think so, but he will be talking to them. I wouldn’t have thought that, with the recurrence in his hamstring, he would be anywhere near available.”
O’Shea is suspended for the first leg in Zenica next Friday evening following his sending off in Poland last month, but had hoped to return for the second leg in Dublin three days later.
“He’s not been able to get fit for us in two weeks, so he’s not going to get fit with a hamstring in 10 days. Sadly for us today, he was missing and sadly for them,” added the Sunderland boss.
“He got through training all right yesterday and was selected to play, but felt it this morning, so we took him out.”
Meanwhile Stoke forward Jonathan Walters, also suspended for the first leg, has signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract.
The Potters revealed on their official Twitter feed on Saturday afternoon that Walters, whose previous deal was expiring at the end of the season, had put pen to paper on a new one taking him through to the summer of 2018.
The 32-year-old Republic of Ireland international has made over 200 appearances in all competitions for Stoke since joining them in 2010, scoring 54 goals.
The news appears a victory for Walters, who had been pushing in talks for a contract to 2018 when the club had only been offering him one to 2017.
As recently as last week boss Mark Hughes admitted Stoke were in danger of losing the player but retained hope an agreement could be reached.
It had also looked as if Walters might leave earlier this season as he handed in a transfer request amid bids from Norwich being rejected towards the end of the summer window.
Despite the uncertainty over his future, he has been in fine form this term, with his spectacular strike in the recent Capital One Cup fourth-round clash with Chelsea his fourth club goal of the campaign to add to two netted on international duty.
Topping the queue to stand in for Walters next Friday night, Daryl Murphy netted a hat-trick for Ipswich in the championship on Saturday, with manager Mick McCarthy backing him to carry that form into next Friday’s first leg.
Last season’s golden boot winner with 27 goals – was to the fore in a 5-2 victory at rock-bottom Rotherham.
The striker has failed to scale those heights again so far this season, but he found his range in South Yorkshire with a maiden career treble.
His first goal of the season came two minutes before the break after poor defending allowed the striker to slam home from eight yards.
Then just three minutes after the restart Murphy capitalised on more generous defending and drilled home from an angle, and Ipswich sealed the win with Murphy completing his personal glory with a low finish in the 72nd minute.
McCarthy was pleased his main man in attack found his form, saying: “Everyone is for delighted for him. “It’s lovely to have him back playing. I am delighted for him.
“Form is temporary, class is permanent, I hope that rule fits for him. I was certain he was going to get the goals after the last three performances when he works hard. He gets chances when he plays like that.
“I would imagine he has put himself in (Republic manager) Martin O’Neill’s mind, I don’t pick anyone’s side for them, though. It came at a nice time.”
Elsewhere Rob Elliot gave a man of the match performance between the posts for Newcastle in their 1-0 win over Bournemouth, while in the SPL Adam Rooney scored as Aberdeen ended a run of six games without a win against Dundee United.
