Ferguson hails "remarkable" O'Shea improvement
December 13, 2004
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that a break from first-team activity has done wonders for the club’s Irish international defender John O’Shea.
O’Shea has spent the past two months on the fringes, leading to speculation that he could be on his way out of the club when the transfer window opens in January.
However, Ferguson insists the 23-year-old remains a key part of the club’s future, and to that end he is delighted with the progress he has made since the decision was taken to relieve him of first-team duties for a spell.
“When you see the improvement he has made in training, and strength-wise, it is remarkable,” said Fergie. “For two-and-a-half years we played him all the time in different positions, sometimes with injuries, simply because we had to. Rio was suspended, Mikael Silvestre was out with an injury, so was Gary Neville and Wes [Brown], and really the boy has done fantastically well.
“Now, having given him that break, he looks a different player completely. He is fresh and strong and he has been terrific in training.”
