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John O'Shea pictured training with the Irish squad. Morgan Treacy/INPHO
looking ahead

John O'Shea backs future Ireland stars Shane Duffy and Jack Byrne to shine

The Sunderland defender expects the pair to play a big part in the Irish team in the coming years.

JOHN O’SHEA HAS had words of encouragement for Ireland youngsters Shane Duffy and Jack Byrne.

Duffy’s impressive displays with Blackburn in the Championship have earned him a call-up with the senior side, while Byrne was named in Noel King’s U21 squad on the back of some eye-catching performances in the Dutch league with SC Cambuur.

On Duffy, O’Shea added: “He’s doing fantastic at club level, it shows you how well he’s progressing.

“I know a few lads who went (to Blackburn) on loan, and they speak very highly of him.

I think confidence would be a big thing (in helping him develop) — that’s obviously come from the game time.”

And does O’Shea feel Byrne is capable of making an impact at a higher level than U21s?

“That’s what he’s going on loan for. To get that edge he wouldn’t be able to get at Man City.

You see how talented he is. He’ll realise towards the end of the season how much he’s developed. By all accounts, he’s caught the eye (in Holland).”

One of the players who was part of Ireland’s squad for the infamous 2012 Euros campaign four years ago, O’Shea says he does his best to “erase” that summer from his memory.

As is the case currently, Ireland went in to that tournament with confidence high and an impressive unbeaten record intact, however, the Sunderland defender is reluctant to draw comparisons between then and now.

“Preparation is very important, but it’s a different time, a different group of players, a different manager, so hopefully it will be a different set of results,” he said.

Despite currently being involved in an intense relegation battle at club level, O’Shea says adapting to life with Ireland isn’t especially difficult.

I’ve done it throughout my career. It’s very straightforward because of the atmosphere everyone’s created here.”

And finally, does he feel any differently about these types of games as he gets older?

“Not particularly. You know there are not going to be many more, so you focus on enjoying the games as they come.”

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