Jay O'Shea admits he is playing for his future at Sheffield United

The 28-year-old joined the Blades on loan for the rest of the season earlier this week.

With his deal with the Spireites due to expire in the summer, O’Shea, who has netted eight times this season from midfield, has played his last game for the Derbyshire club and is already eyeing a permanent switch to Bramall Lane.

“Sheffield United are a massive club and, at this stage of my career, if I didn’t make the move now then I might not have got the opportunity to play for a club of this size again,” said the Irishman.

“Once I got notified that there was interest and that they had approached Chesterfield, it was something I definitely wanted to do. Especially at this stage of my career, with where I think this club is going.”

O’Shea’s formative years were spent in Ireland and it wasn’t until just before his 21st birthday that he moved to England.

A two-year contract offer at Birmingham City lured him across the Irish Sea but it was at Milton Keynes Dons when O’Shea’s career really began to flourish. A move to Chesterfield followed and he went on to net 40 goals in 197 appearances for the club.

“I will be out of contract in the summer and I am going to be doing everything I can to try and impress,” he added.

“I am playing for my future, whether it be here or somewhere else. But it would be nice if I could make it permanent here, that is the aim for myself. That’s the over-riding target for me.”

O’Shea was in the crowd as the Blades slipped to defeat at home to Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night but he is adamant Chris Wilder is building something special at the Lane.

“I have played against all the sides in League One and Sheffield United are the best,” he added. “There has been a few bad results where they have not won recently but I still think they will be right up there.

“I remember being on the wrong end of a heavy defeat earlier this season (United won 4-1 at Chesterfield in November) and I was really impressed with the interplay between the forwards. I was thinking, ‘This is a side that I would love to play for.’”

“Hopefully, us two new lads (James Hanson also signed this week from Bradford City) can give things a bit of a lft because everyone here has been so welcoming to us.

“I will try to bring goals and assists, that is something I’ve always looked to do in my game. But, first, I have got to try and get into the team because that is not going to easy. This is a good side.”

==========================================================

Yorkshire Post - Football

Get the latest news from The Yorkshire Post on social media.

FACEBOOK | Like the Yorkshire Post Football page

TWITTER | Follow @YPSport

INSTAGRAM | See our snaps at @YPSport.