O'Shea shoots on sight along his road to United redemption

With the grand total of four goals from five attempts John O'Shea has materialised as the most accurate marksman in the Premiership this season and he has not wasted the opportunity to rub it in the noses of the disbelieving Manchester United forward line.

"I've been giving the strikers stick about that statistic," says the Irishman. "The ratio is only high because I don't have many shots but I wouldn't mind outscoring Didier Drogba at Wembley on Saturday."

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Another grandiose feat of the 26-year-old from Waterford is that he represents the barometer of United's transformation these past 18 months. That mantle will broker less argument at Old Trafford which, given the contrast between the past two press conferences O'Shea has held for his club, is a sign of progress comparable to leaving Drogba in the new Wembley shade tomorrow afternoon.

It is 1 November, 2005. Mutiny is in the air as United officials censure Roy Keane's infamous 'Play the Pundit' appearance on MUTV while, in a Parisian hotel, O'Shea sits beside Sir Alex Ferguson to preview the Champions League game against Lille.

The following night at the Stade De France, United deliver a dreadful performance, yet even before kick-off there is confirmation of the despair caused by a preceding drubbing at Middlesbrough and Keane's honest analysis as several of his targets, O'Shea among them, are jeered in the warm-up by the travelling support. Keane's name is sung throughout the game.

Today, back in front of the media again and having been heralded by Ferguson as integral to the destination of the title, O'Shea is candid as he retraces hisroad to redemption.

"I was aware of the criticism at that time," the United defender recalls. "I had to do a press conference before the Lille game and I was fully aware of the atmosphere because the manager was tapping me during the press conference to make sure I got my answers correct. When you lose 4-1 at Middlesbrough and then to Lille, that didn't help matters.

"For me it was easy to shut out the criticism because it was all on the outside and I knew what was being said by the manager on the inside, so it wasn't affecting me. "

Despite igniting an inflammable situation that winter, Keane remains a major inspiration to his compatriot. "His determination, his will-to-win, everything about him was a very positive influence," says O'Shea.

"When you do get your chance you have to give the manager a tough choice to leave you out. That was difficult last season," he admits. "The last time we won the League I was a regular in the team. I was a regular the next season but then in and out for the next two seasons. It is just about finding that consistency level and I think I've found that now."

Only Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo have made more appearances this season than O'Shea butthe description of a squad player is one that is still levelled at him. "I don't accept it," he insists.

But there is likely to be cause for complaint for either O'Shea or Wes Brown tomorrow, as the pair vie for the injured Gary Neville's right back slot. Perhaps a prolific goalscoring record will swing the vote the way of O'Shea.

* Cristiano Ronaldo last night completed a clean sweep of awards for the season. The 22-year-old Manchester United winger received the Football Writers' Association award for his outstanding season.