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Sunderland's John O'Shea in fitness battle ahead of Euro 2016 qualifier; John O'Shea suffered a calf injury in the Republic of Ireland's friendly against England, which makes him a doubt for the vital game against Scotland.

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Byline: James Hunter

Sunderland's John O'Shea is facing a race against time to be fit for the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland on Friday.

A calf injury meant O'Shea limped out of Ireland's goalless friendly against England at the Aviva Stadium yesterday, with a little over 15 minutes of the game against Roy Hodgson's men remaining.

And Ireland manager Martin O'Neill confirmed his captain would undergo treatment this week ahead of their Group D game against Scotland in Dublin.

"John O'Shea's calf is tightening up -- I know it is something he has suffered a little bit from in the past and we hope in the next couple of days he comes through," said the former Sunderland manager. Despite turning 34 in April, O'Shea played more minutes for Sunderland than any other player last season, starting all but one of the Black Cats' 38 Premier League games.

And only a rib injury he suffered against Southampton at the beginning of May -- which ruled him out of the next game at Everton -- denied him an ever-present record. If O'Shea does recover in time to face Scotland, he is set to come up against his club colleague Steven Fletcher.

Striker Fletcher has endured a difficult season on Wearside, with his goal at Chelsea on the final day of the campaign only his fifth of the season -- and his first for the Black Cats since November.

But that seven-month drought pales into insignificance alongside...

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