JOHN O’SHEA is winning his battle to be fit for Sunderland’s crunch Premier League game at Watford, and is set to be reunited with Lamine Kone at Vicarage Road.

O’Shea suffered a leg injury as he was the recipient of a controversial challenge from Gareth Bale during the Republic of Ireland’s goalless draw with Wales Last Friday.

The Black Cats centre-half had to receive a series of stitches in the wake of the game at the Aviva Stadium, and was not involved in Ireland’s friendly defeat to Iceland on Tuesday.

Instead of remaining with Martin O’Neill’s squad, he returned to Wearside to complete his recuperation, and his recovery should be complete by the time David Moyes takes his side to Watford at the weekend.

O’Shea has already begun some light running, and should be able to return to full training within the next couple of days. That would enable him to put himself forward for selection as Sunderland look to haul themselves off the foot of the Premier League table.

He has escaped lightly given the ferocity of Bale’s challenge, which should have resulted in a straight red card for the Real Madrid midfielder.

“Thankfully, I’m walking away from it,” said O’Shea at the time. “I’ve had plenty of stitches put in there. I was lucky considering what has happened to Seamus (Coleman, who suffered a broken leg following another controversial challenge from Neil Taylor).

“I can’t remember how many stitches it was – the doctor had to stick some in deep and a few dissolvable ones on top. Hopefully, it will heal quickly.”

O’Shea should find himself back alongside Kone at the weekend, with the Ivory Coast international close to completing his own recovery from a knee problem.

Kone damaged his knee in the build-up to this month’s goalless draw against Burnley, and was not involved against the Clarets.

He withdrew from international duty because of the problem, but is expected to be available on Saturday. That will mean Papy Djilobodji remaining on the substitutes’ bench, with the former Chelsea defender having been unable to regain his place in the starting line-up after missing four games because of suspension.

Lee Cattermole could also be available to face Watford, having taken part in full training this week, but Victor Anichebe is unlikely to be risked in the starting line-up in order to ensure he does not suffer another injury setback.

Moyes is determined to get Anichebe back in the side as quickly as possible, but accepts he will have to tread carefully with the striker, who has been sidelined since injuring his knee in January’s 2-0 defeat to West Brom.

That was Anichebe’s first appearance for almost a month, and the former Everton forward has spent some of his recovery time in the United States, where he was based for much of last summer prior to his move to Wearside as a free agent.