SCOTLAND STRIKER STEVEN Fletcher says he is looking forward to going up against Sunderland teammate John O’Shea when Scotland take on Ireland in a Euro 2016 qualifier in Glasgow on Friday.
The 27-year-old goalscorer and the Irish defender are regular rivals during training sessions at the Premier League club, but this will be the first time they have gone head-to-head at an international competitive level.
Fletcher has been in top form of late scoring twice in the Black Cats’ 3-1 victory at Crystal Palace last Monday and playing his part in a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Everton on Sunday.
He has warned 33-year-old O’Shea he will be doing him no favours with the Group D qualification race hotting up.
“I am looking forward to it, to be fair. I have been running rings around him in training, so if I could do it in the game, it would be fine,” he said.
“I was pleased with my performances with Scotland [last month]. I was unlucky not to get a goal, but I was happy the way I played, and hopefully I can keep my place for the next game.”
