REPUBLIC of Ireland defender John O'Shea is fighting to be fit for the Euro 2016 play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina after suffering a recurrence of his hamstring injury.
The 34-year-old Sunderland skipper has not played since limping off during the derby victory over Newcastle on October 25, and was missing from the starting line-up for Saturday afternoon's Barclays Premier League clash with Southampton.
A statement on the club's official website www.safc.com, read: "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."
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.