JOHN O’SHEA is battling to be fit for the Republic of ireland’s Euro 2016 play-off, with Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce claiming his defender doesn’t stand a chance of recovering in time.

O’Shea suffered a recurrence of the hamstring problem he sustained against Newcastle on October 25 when he was preparing to return to action against Southampton yesterday.

The 34-year-old, who is suspended for Ireland’s first leg against Bosnia this Friday, is still hoping to figure in the return leg but Allardyce does not think he will be able to.

Allardyce wants the centre-back to be back in a Black Cats shirt as soon as possible with the trip to Crystal Palace on November 23 in his sights.

The Sunderland boss said: " I don't think (he'll be available) but he will be talking to them.

"I wouldn't think he'll be anywhere near available for Ireland. He hasn't been able to get fit for us in two weeks, so he's not going to get fit from a hamstring in ten days.

"He got through training alright, was selected to play, but felt it on the morning of the game. But I have to say, we didn't miss John O'Shea. Our defending was very, very good."

With O’Shea absent, Younes Kaboul and Sebastian Coates were the men asked to keep Southampton quiet on Saturday.

And Allardyce was satisfied with the way things were going until Yann M’Vila dived in to concede a penalty when he tripped Ryan Bertrand with 21 minutes remaining. Dusan Tadic converted to seal the victory for the Saints.

It was a result which leaves Sunderland four points adrift of fourth from bottom Newcastle after 12 games.

Allardyce said: “(It’s) frustrating in many ways, of course. I think that obviously giving a soft penalty away was the biggest sickener for us.

“Obviously, we didn’t play as well as I would have liked, but we have to accept the team we’re playing against are very good.

“To give that penalty away after we’ve defended so well, is a real blow for us. Southampton were better than us, there’s no doubt about that. But then, you only need one slip from them and then you get something out of the game even if you don’t deserve it.

“But we did the slip, not them. He (M’Vila) didn’t need to go to ground, he’s done the job.

“He covered around DeAndre (Yedlin), just jockey the player out the box... if he’d have just stayed on his feet the lad was going nowhere. He just didn’t need to do it.

“But then again it seems to be a part of our make-up – silly mistake costing us dearly. It certainly cost us today.”