Kikgallon or O'Shea?

MATT KILGALLON admits John O’Shea’s return to fitness has left him feeling the heat over his starting spot for Sunderland’s final four games.

Defender O’Shea has been back in training since last Thursday after a month on the sidelines with the calf strain sustained in Sunderland’s 3-1 victory over QPR.

The Republic of Ireland defender wasn’t included in the squad to face Wolves last weekend, although he did complete a strenuous warm-down on the Stadium of Light pitch after the final whistle.

But with an extra week’s training under his belt, O’Shea is expected to be in the party that travels to struggling Aston Villa on Saturday.

Centre-half Kilgallon (left) accepts he faces a battle to keep his place alongside Michael Turner, even though the duo have kept a clean sheet in two of Sunderland’s last four games.

Kilgallon told the Echo: “John’s breathing down my neck now!

“He’s come back to fitness and he is a great player. He’s trained as though he has never been away, so I’m sure he will be in contention soon.

“It’s a great situation for the manager when he’s got all his players available. But I guess we’ll have to wait until the weekend to see what he will do against Aston Villa.”

Kilgallon could barely have imagined vying with O’Shea for a starting spot four months ago after finding himself frozen out of the first-team picture by former boss Steve Bruce.

But the ex-Sheffield United defender has grasped his opportunity under Martin O’Neill after initially returning alongside O’Shea for four games in January.

An ankle injury halted his comeback, with O’Shea and Turner forming an effective double-act during the 28-year-old’s absence.

But after O’Neill preferred Kilgallon to on-loan Stuttgart man Sotirios Kyrgiakos for Sunderland’s draw at Manchester City last month, he has continued to impress in the starting XI and is desperate to remain there until the end of the campaign.

“It’s been an incredible turnaround for me since Christmas and I don’t really want the season to end, to be honest,” he added. “It was hard when I was out of the team. You can start doubting yourself and wondering what has happened to you.

“But I am quite a strong person and I always knew I was good enough to play for Sunderland and, luckily for me, things changed when the new manager came in.

“I have to thank him for giving me a chance in the side and hopefully I have repaid him by playing as well as I can. There’s still a few more games left and I just want to try to stay in the side for the remainder of the season.

“We’ve kept clean sheets in two of our last four games so if we can keep more, hopefully I will keep my place.”

 

Killa or Turner?

 

That's the question for me - O'Shea and Kilgallon I think - I do like Turner although his distribution isn't great, he reads the game well and wins almost everything put up to the defence - glad I'm not picking the side as it's be difficult to drop players!

As for the Villa game - really hope DB is watching and that we turn them over - need to think up a song to sing to Bent if we win!!

 

O'Shea and kilgallon for me

 

Turner is better at heading the ball than Killa whonis faster and happier on the ball. Mig will be facing the guy whom smashed his face!

 

I'd play Killa & O'Shea, O'Shea is very good in the air, and KIlla is the best footballing CB available without Wes, so they compliment each other.

We have decent CB options if they are all fit (never...)

 

I would stick with Killa and Turner. They have done well since O'Shea has been out and I dont see how we could drop either of them having done such a good job. If it isnt broke dont fix it

 

Goals against column has taken a mighty hit in that time marra...

 

I know the Everton game was **** but that was an overall crap performance rather then due to defencive errors. Other than that it has been clean sheets.

 

Man City (3), Everton cup (2) Blackburn (2), surely?

 

Back to O'Shea and Turner for me. Harsh on Killa but the partnership was promising before O'Sheas injury.

 

Man C scored against Turner and the Greek, not Killa.

Everton was ****e team performance (both Everton games). Pretty sure it was the same for blackburn, and not just defensive errors.

 

O'Shea and Killa for me although possibly O'Shea and Turner with Killa at left back?

 

Of course, but the signs point to us having a better defensive record with Killa, and O'Shea was looking every inch ex Man United class pre-injury!

 

I would have O'Shea on the bench. I'm not entirely convinced that he is fully fit.

I'd much rather he (O'Shea) was used sparingly in the last few games so that any injury isn't aggravated and hopefully he'll be fully fit with no possible doubts concerning any (even just niggling) injuries.

At the beginning of the season I wasn't very impressed with JOS and his distribution was awful. However, as the season progressed he was getting better and his positional sense is excellent. Now I think he's one of our best players.
It seemed in many games that any ball coming in was cleared by JOS who 'just happened' to be in exactly the right spot.

I would use this same reasoning for Cattermole who has some kind of injury. Let him have some time off to recover and then come back fully fit at the beginning of next season.

So then, for me keep on with Killa and Turner and use Vaughan, Meyler, Gardner and Jack as midfielders.
Of those 4 Jack has nothing to prove so maybe play Meyler to see how he's coming on.

I'd even use McClean as a sub although he is rightly our 1st. choice L Winger. Give him a bit of a break.

 

John and killa for me

 

I can't see how Killa could lose his place on current form, so if anyone was to be dropped it would have to be Turner for me..

 

I am hoping the Man u game has the title resting on it !, full house and 3 former Man u players in our team.

 

O'Shea and Killa for me for the reasons above. Who'd you have in centre midfield

 

Saw JOS on Sky earlier saying he hopes its all wrapped up before the last game!