By Rob Carragher Last updated: 5th December 2008
O'Shea: Happy to do a job
Manchester United utility man John O'Shea has admitted that the club face a tough task to compete on four fronts over the coming month.
In between domestic ties with Sunderland and Tottenham, United will play host to UEFA Champions League opposition Aalborg before jetting off to the Far East to compete in the Club World Cup just before Christmas.
Their hectic schedule will then resume with league fixtures against Stoke and Middlesbrough and a trip to Southampton for the FA Cup third round - a series of games in which O'Shea feels player rotation may well prove pivotal.
"It is going to be a busy period and the whole squad will be needed," he said.
"It is a tricky situation for the manager because he wants to keep the freshness in the team, particularly when the games are so vital.
"We have got the trip to Japan as well but it is something we have known about for a while and we just have to deal with it."
The Irishman could make his 307th appearance for the club against Sunderland, a feat which is even more impressive for a man commonly viewed as a fringe player in United's star-studded squad.
But it is credit to O'Shea's versatility that he has racked up so many games for the Old Trafford outfit and the 27-year-old remains adamant that he is happy to play anywhere on the pitch just so long as he is playing.
"Being in the team is the be all and end all," he added.
"It doesn't matter where you play, you just have to make sure you do your job.
"I just want to play as many games as I can, keep doing well and help the team win trophies."

Manchester Utd 3-3 CSKA Moscow
Champions League round-up - Nov 3rd
Man Utd 3-3 CSKA Moscow- Owen
Man Utd 3-3 CSKA Moscow - Ferguson
Fergie's injury issues
Fergie injury worries
Barnsley 0-2 Man Utd - Robins
Barnsley 0-2 Man Utd - Ferguson
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Chelsea vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Man Utd vs Besiktas |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| Tuesday 1st December | |
| Carling Cup | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Tottenham |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Man Utd |
| Tuesday 8th December | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Wolfsburg vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Aston Villa |
| Tuesday 15th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Man Utd vs Wolverhampton |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Man Utd |
| Sunday 27th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Hull vs Man Utd |
| Wednesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Wigan |
| Saturday 9th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Birmingham vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 16th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Burnley |
| Tuesday 26th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Man Utd vs Hull |
| Sunday 31st January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Arsenal vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Man Utd |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 3rd November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Man Utd 3 - 3 CSKA Moscow | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Tuesday 27th October | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Barnsley 0 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Sunday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 21st October | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| CSKA Moscow 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 1 Bolton | |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Wednesday 30th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 1 Wolfsburg | |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 0 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 23rd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Wolverhampton | |
| Sunday 20th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 4 - 3 Man City | |
| Tuesday 15th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Besiktas 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 1 - 3 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 1 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 0 - 5 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Burnley 1 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Sunday 16th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Birmingham | |
| Sunday 9th August | |
| FA Community Shield | |
| Chelsea 2 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Wednesday 5th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Valencia | |
| Thursday 30th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Bayern Munich | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 11 | 27 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 11 | 25 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 11 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 22 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 12 | 21 |
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Can Chelsea cash in on Man Utd's defensive issues and add to their league lead, asks Andy Gray.
With Didier Drogba in frightening form, Paul Merson expects Chelsea to beat Man Utd on Sunday.
Manchester United's 2-1 loss to Bolton in 2001. Can you name the mystery starting XI?
Manchester United defender Jonny Evans says Fernando Torres is harder to defend against than Didier Drogba.
Patrice Evra has admitted that he wants to beat Chelsea more than any other team in the Premier League.
Sir Alex Ferguson admits that he has had offers to manage abroad but is adamant that 'you don't leave Manchester United'.
Dimitar Berbatov believes the Premier League title will be won by either Manchester United or Chelsea.
Darren Fletcher insists he can match any midfielder in the Premier League after improving his strength and bulking up.