NORMALLY, you would go to Bournemouth for a holiday. But for John O’Shea, his experience of the south coast resort was one that shaped his football career.

The fresh-faced O’Shea was sent to the Cherries in January 2000 by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in a bid to give the then 18-year-old a taste of Division Two football.

He returned to Old Trafford and went on to make 256 appearances for the Red Devils following a second loan spell at Belgian side Royal Antwerp. And now more than 15 years later, O’Shea, a Sunderland player, will make his first return to the club that gave him a grounding in the game.

“It was a long time ago. It was a fantastic experience,” said O’Shea, who played 11 times for Bournemouth under manager Mel Machin in the 1999-2000 season. “Sir Alex Ferguson spoke to me at the time and said reserve team football was okay but I needed to get battered and bruised in a tougher environment to toughen me up a bit and understand the game. To experience what it is like when the points really matter in games.

“It worked, I got battered plenty of times down there. It definitely worked. But also the manager Mel Machin and (assistant) Sean O'Driscoll wanted football played the right way. It wasn't just about character building, but good habits too.”

The Northern Echo: John O'Shea

O’Shea took his place in central defence at Dean Court, with eight of his 11 appearances alongside current Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, three years his senior.

Howe’s playing career came to an end two years after O’Shea’s loan spell on the South Coast, eventually taking over as Cherries manager in 2009 at the age of 32. The Republic of Ireland international is delighted to see Howe in charge of his hometown club.

“At the time he picked up a few injuries,” said O’Shea of Howe. “But you could see at that early age he was a real student of the game in terms of how he approached things. You could see he was heading in that direction. As a manager he is definitely of the coaching type. It is great to see the way he has progressed.

“He was just a cool customer and he is on the sidelines as well. You rarely see him getting too agitated. Then or now.

“Obviously they have had a bit of help financially but it is so impressive where he has taken the club. When you look at the support base and the size of the club despite new owners coming in, to get into the Premier League is a fantastic achievement.

“I could never have imagined going back there for a Premier League game. When they got into the Championship they probably thought it was a case of establishing themselves and then pushing for promotion.

“They have done it a bit ahead of schedule. In a great manner too, scoring plenty of goals with an attacking style.”

So, with O’Shea in the winter of his own playing career, does he look at Howe and wish to emulate his achievements?

“Possibly yes, but fingers crossed it is a while away yet,” said the 34-year-old. “But you think about it. Unfortunately you can't go on forever.

“I am doing my licence at the minute and it is progressing well. I am concentrating on my football but it is certainly an option for the future.

The Northern Echo: John O'Shea says Sunderland remain focused on Premier League survival

“Eddie is an inspiration but lots of young managers are as well. For example Garry Monk, Alex Neil at Norwich, there are lots showing that age is perhaps not as much a barrier as it once was in past years. There is also great examples for experience too. It is finding that balance.”

During O’Shea’s time away from Bournemouth, much has changed. Dean Court, now known as Vitality Stadium for sponsorship reasons, has been rotated 90 degrees since O’Shea last played there. All four sides of the ground have been redeveloped, and while the 12,000 capacity is the lowest in the Premier League, it is the highest Bournemouth have known since turning the ground all-seater.

But as well as Howe, there will be another familiar face looking on today.

When O’Shea was sent to Bournemouth, he – as well as Jermain Defoe in 2000-2001 – stayed with club kit man Ken ‘Nimbus’ Sullivan and his family.

But while Ken sadly passed away in 2013, wife Audrey still maintains contact with O’Shea.

“I keep in touch,” explained O’Shea. “I stayed longer than my initial loan. They wanted me to stay on an extra month because the loan worked out well.

“Ken, my old landlord, passed away a few years ago, but his wife Audrey still sends me letters. I am not one for letter writing but I always call her. She also sends knitted jumpers for my kids and stuff like that.

“They were lovely and really looked after me. I will try to see her this weekend. I don't know if she still goes to home games because she is quite elderly but I'll give her a call and hope to see her when we have got three points.

“They took me in and treated me like one of their grandsons.

“Ken used to take me down the bingo. And if I had a bit of a head cold, Audrey joked now they tried to make me into an alcoholic, but giving me a drop of brandy and stuff like that. They were so devoted.”

O’Shea knows his fair share about Bournemouth since his short spell there, and is expecting a tough time against the newly-promoted side.

“There is an attacking mindset,” said the Sunderland skipper. They are going to score goals. You can see they are trying to win games. Eddie has not changed their approach too much. They are playing as they did in the Championship getting at teams looking to score goals.”