Left, right or centre ... O'Shea is face of the future

John O'Shea will stake his claim for a permanent place at the heart of Manchester United's defence tomorrow night in a stadium which will bring memories from his teenage years flooding back.

In 1994 O'Shea was just another 13-year-old Waterford boy dreaming of becoming a famous footballer when the Republic of Ireland pulled off the finest victory in their history - the 1-0 defeat of Italy in a World Cup clash in New Jersey's Giants Stadium.

The celebrations in the Irish bars of Manhattan went on all night and among the revellers were several members of the O'Shea clan living in the Big Apple. His father's two brothers and two sisters had settled in the United States and O'Shea is looking for 12 family tickets for tomorrow's game against Juventus.

Little did young John know that he would be returning to the same imposing arena this week as a Manchester United player who is fast becoming an idol to the Old Trafford fans.

He will sign a £24,000-a-week, four-year contract before the season starts and he is looking to become more than a mere utility player. He said: ' Anywhere across the back four would do. There seems to be a gap alongside Rio Ferdinand and when Mikael Silvestre returns, the manager may want to put him in at left back.

'There seem to be a few questions to be answered about the shape of the team next season and I just hope I am one of the answers.

'The centre half position is where I have always wanted to be. I have filled in at full back on both sides and it went well for me. But my own preference would be in the middle. I started 42 games last season and took part in 62. Something similar this season would make me very happy.

'Players say that your second big season is harder because opposition players know more about you. But that is the challenge I would like. A utility role is not bad at a club like this but it would be good to get a centre half spot.'

To United, though, he has become that most precious of commodities, a player who offers his manager a range of options, from full back to central defence and in midfield.

Ferguson has said: 'I couldn't tell you his best position these days. The boy's adapted to anything we've asked him to do and shows great temperament and balance wherever he plays, so I'd keep the door open for him in several positions.'

Rio Ferdinand, who has the luxury of a range of central defensive partners, said: 'It is always a pleasure to play alongside quality players whether it be John, Mikael Silvestre or Wes Brown. They have all been first class.

'I honestly don't have any preference about who plays alongside me.

'John looks a natural wherever he has played. As time goes on he will eventually fit into a position. That will be when the manager thinks the time is right.

'At the moment he's not sure where he will end up playing but he looks very confident as a centre half. I don't see any problem in having two footballing centre halves.

'If you look back to the early United teams that won the title, both Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister were both players who could pass the ball from defence.'

Roy Keane, who played for Ireland in that victory over Italy, has been something of a mentor to O'Shea, 22, and has urged some caution in the levels of expectation

He said: 'John has been getting a lot of praise and I'd like to see that ease back a bit. I've been as guilty of that as anybody, but everyone needs to calm down and let him develop.

'He's got everything. Good feet, a good football brain and he's very level-headed. But he's from Waterford and they're all laid-back down there.

'John's gone beyond potential, but I know he wants to pin down a position. He's been brilliant at full back but he's probably going to be at his best at centre half.'

O'Shea is a great admirer of Keane and, as a lad, idolised Paul McGrath - another player who proved adept at filling twin roles for United and the Republic of Ireland.

'I definitely learned from Paul,' said O'Shea. 'He was so relaxed but he completely controlled games. In many ways, it was like Roy Keane did for Ireland.

'Paul never trained, he just played the games. That's how good he was. I try to be composed and be a big figure on the pitch and impose myself. That's what Paul used to do and I try to copy that.'

So far, he appears to be doing it rather well.

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