O'Shea: Burgess Really Easy to Play Alongside
Friday, 20th Dec 2024 19:53 by Kallum Brisset
Town defender Dara O’Shea says fellow centre-half Cameron Burgess has continued to impress him and believes their partnership is growing game-by-game.
Burgess, one of many in the squad who played for the club in League One, has been one of the Blues’ standout performers over the last few weeks and O’Shea believes the Australian is easy to play alongside.
But it was not just Burgess who O’Shea heaped praise on, with the former Burnley defender also crediting the work of fellow defenders Jacob Greaves and Luke Woolfenden in providing competition in training and for places in the starting XI.
“It’s been really good,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed playing with him and I’ve enjoyed playing with Greavesy and Woolfy as well. As a four we all complement each other quite well and push each other in training which helps.
“That’s keeping us on it every day, but since I’ve been playing with Burge I’ve built quite a good relationship with him. He’s a very experienced defender and plays the game really well and he’s really easy to play alongside.”
Reflecting further on the form of Burgess, O’Shea said: “Really impressed, easy to play with Cameron is and a top lad too, we both get on and that’s always a good thing.
“Our attributes complement each other well, he sees the game really well. The main word is that he’s really easy to play alongside and that’s all I can ask for as a defensive partner.
“From the start I always saw him as a player who had some real quality and he’s proven that on the biggest stage for himself. That’s the same for a lot of the lads, a lot of them have come from the lower leagues and they’ve always had that quality.
“It’s only now they’re getting to show that. Playing with better players than they’ve played with before brings out the best in people at times.”
On his own attributes, O’Shea added: “There’s some quick boys here but I’d definitely put myself up there. People don’t really think I’m quick maybe by looking at me, which is quite nice when you surprise people. It’s a quick group, I don’t know where I stand in that group, but I’d like to give it a go.
“It’s a non-negotiable really when you’re a defender, you’re there to help the team out and put your body on the line. That’s expected of you really and I don’t mind doing that in a way, it’s just part of my job.”
Beyond this weekend’s visit of Newcastle United is a challenging festive fixture list featuring title contenders Arsenal and Chelsea before the close of the calendar year.
O’Shea is embracing the prospect of playing sides at the highest level and says maintaining fitness is going to be important during what is the most congested period of the season regarding the schedule.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “Three big teams which is a great challenge for us. As players, these are the teams you want to come up against and the players you want to play against. It’s a challenge that we need to relish and look forward to the opportunity.
“Recovery is going to be massive, the quick turnaround in games is going to be demanding on the bodies. With the time of year as well it’s a bit colder and the conditions are a bit worse.
“We’ve all got to look after ourselves, we’ve got the best of the best here to help us improve and recover. We’ve got to utilise all those things that are at our feet and get ourselves ready for the games.”
Town boss Kieran McKenna celebrated three years in charge at Portman Road during the week having taken the Blues from mid-table in League One to the Premier League in such a short period of time.
While he has only been in Suffolk since the summer, O’Shea has already built a strong relationship with McKenna and credits the Northern Irishman for playing a key role in his decision to sign.
The 25-year-old said: “If you have that good relationship between the manager and the players it’s always positive. Everybody has that here at the club which is a credit to what the manager has produced here with the culture and stuff like that.
“Tough times and the position we are in the league, but we don’t really feel that we’re where we should be, which is good for us and in games we’re really enjoying the challenge.
“He was a massive key part to me coming here. I’d heard a lot about him before coming here from players that have played under him and even players who hadn’t.
“To come and play for a manager like himself who is so passionate about how he wants to play football, passionate for the club and really wants the lads here to do well, it’s a no-brainer to come to a place like this where you’re going to learn a lot.
“I’ve learned loads, if I was to sit here I think we’d be here a while! It’s the small details with him and they make such a big difference. On the outside you probably can’t see them, but when you’re inside and you’re in the classroom and learning from him, it opens your eyes to the game slightly differently.
“I’ve played under some great managers and he’s definitely up there with one of the best. The small details are the key point, they’re the ones that make you into a better player.”
Having signed late in the summer transfer window, O’Shea came in for his league debut away at Brighton and Hove Albion in early September.
O’Shea has started every game since the goalless draw at the Amex, highlighting the faith that McKenna has put in the defender to make his role in the side his own.
“Massive trust,” he said. “As a player all you want is to be playing games. When it’s given to you, you’ve just got to repay the favour and put the performances in to hold that place. It’s obviously nice to play every game, I’m being pushed a lot by the other lads which is good.
“When you come to a club you’re hoping that you’re going to be playing games because they wouldn’t be coming for you if not. So that was always the aim for myself, everywhere I’ve gone I’ve not been happy to sit on the bench.
“I want to play, I want to experience the games and play against the best players in the world. As a player anyone would say the exact same thing, you want to be playing games and playing consistently.”
Internationally, O’Shea is now up to 32 caps for the Republic of Ireland, who recently learned their opponents for the upcoming UEFA Nations League play-offs - Bulgaria home and away in March - and their World Cup qualifying campaign in which they will take on Portugal or Denmark, Hungary and Armenia.
“It’s a tough draw, there’s never any easy draws,” O’Shea reflected. “It’s going to be interesting for us, we need to start winning games and qualifying for tournaments.
“I think it’s a good time too, there’s a lot of lads playing in the Premier League now for the Republic of Ireland which we haven’t had for numerous years.
“The last campaign we had was really disappointing not getting what we wanted out of it and getting some poor results, but it’s been promising since the new manager came in and hopefully we’re on the up.
“International football is so different to club level, you’ve got a short period of time when you come in and meet up with the lads. You’ve got to have that good morale and work ethic in the group to get wins and qualify for tournaments.”
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