O'SHEA HOPEFUL OVER FITNESS

MANCHESTER UNITED defender John O'Shea is still hopeful of making the champions' Premier League match with Everton on Saturday, despite being substituted during Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-off with France on Wednesday night because of injury.

O'Shea limped off after 66 minutes of the match at the Stade de France, to be replaced by Paul McShane, and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told reporters on Friday morning that the defender was a doubt for the Old Trafford clash with a thigh injury.

However, O'Shea told the News of the World that the Ireland medical staff had told him that the injury was no worse than a dead leg.

HURT: The moment O'Shea gets injured

"It is a severe dead leg, from when I clashed with Thierry Henry and Shay Given the time when the ball was played over the top," he said.

"I tried to carry on for a minute or two but it was no good, the blood was rushing right through the leg and I could not bend it or move it, so I had to come off."

When asked whether he will be ready for Saturday's teatime encounter, O'Shea said: "We'll have to wait and see."

Ferguson is battling with something of a defensive crisis as Rio Ferdinand is still out with a back problem and Jonny Evans is doubtful. Gary Neville is suspended but Nemanja Vidic is back and likely to partner Wes Brown in the heart of the back four if Evans is ruled out.

The Red Devils need a win after losing at Chelsea last time out and slipping five points behind the Premier League leaders in the table.

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