Updated at 18.15pm
JOHN O’SHEA HAS suffered a recurrence of his enduring hamstring injury, making him a serious doubt for the second-leg of Ireland’s Euro 2016 play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Sunderland defender declared himself fit for this afternoon’s Premier League game against Southampton but was forced to sit out after aggravating the injury in training on Friday.
“John O’Shea and Lee Cattermole both miss out due to injury with the Republic of Ireland international suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury picked up against Newcastle United,” the club’s website said.
O’Shea hasn’t played since limping off during the Tyne-Wear derby victory over Newcastle on 25 October.
The 34-year-old is suspended for Friday’s first-leg in Zenica but is now in a battle against time to recover for the return fixture at the Aviva Stadium.
Following the Black Cats’ 1-0 defeat earlier, manager Sam Allardyce said there was no chance O’Shea would be fit to captain the Boys in Green.
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It’s another setback for Martin O’Neill with Southampton striker Shane Long’s involvement also in doubt through injury.
Seamus Coleman, meanwhile, continued his return to fitness alongside James McCarthy as the pair started Everton’s game at West Ham and Wes Hoolahan played 90 minutes in Norwich’s 1-0 victory over Swansea.
James McClean was included in the West Brom team at Old Trafford while Harry Arter played 79 minutes in Bournemouth’s defeat to Newcastle.
The Ireland squad assemble in Dublin on Monday as they look to secure a place at next summer’s European Championships.
