Sunderland skipper John O’Shea faces former club Manchester United today.
O’Shea has not missed a minute of Premier League football this term and collected his 100th cap for the Republic of Ireland earlier in the season.
United allowed O’Shea to join the Black Cats in 2011 after 393 appearances at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has hailed the form of skipper John O’Shea.
Poyet says O’Shea could play for any top six team.
“If you know John well and know what he is capable of, you realise why he played for United for so many years,” said Poyet. “We are lucky to have him because he could be playing regularly in a top six team.
“A lot of players leave Man United and disappear, but not John. He is still an international and a big player for us and his country. That is why he is captain. It was an easy decision to make him our leader.