John O'Shea unlikely to report for international duty due to injury

John O'Shea is unlikely to be fit for the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2016 play-off

John O'Shea is unlikely to make the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2016 play-off showdown with Bosnia-Herzegovina after aggravating his hamstring injury.

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce confirmed that the defender, who missed the Black Cats' 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat by Southampton on Saturday afternoon, is unlikely to meet up with his international team-mates in Dublin on Sunday.

Allardyce said: "No, I don't think so, but he will be talking to them. I wouldn't have thought that, with the recurrence in his hamstring, he would be anywhere near available.

"He's not been able to get fit for us in two weeks, so he's not going to get fit with a hamstring in 10 days. Sadly for us today, he was missing and sadly for them.

"He got through training all right yesterday and was selected to play, but felt it this morning, so we took him out."

The news will come as a blow to Ireland boss Martin O'Neill, who named the 34-year-old in a provisional 39-man squad last month despite the fact that he is suspended for the first game in Zenica next Friday evening after being sent off in Poland.

O'Shea, who has 108 senior caps to his name, has not played since damaging his hamstring in the 3-0 derby victory over Newcastle on October 25.