Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni admits he may have to look at other options if John O'Shea fails to regain fitness in time for next Monday's friendly against Hungary.
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The Sunderland defender is a doubt for the Budapest clash after sitting out Saturday's 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina at the Aviva Stadium with a niggling ankle injury.
Trapattoni is confident the 31-year-old will shake off the problem in time for Monday's game but has hinted he will have to look for an alternative ahead of Euro 2012 if the stopper fails to recover.
"I think O'Shea can play in Hungary. He assured me that he can be ready. But we wait because in Budapest he must play," the coach is quoted as saying in the Irish Examiner.
"I preserve him against Bosnia, like (Shay) Given. I said I would not run the risk but in Hungary he must play or else we have to look at another option."
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