The Manchester United utility man picked up a thigh injury during the Republic of Ireland's shattering World Cup exit in France last month that Ferguson initially felt was nothing more than a dead leg.
However, O'Shea has not played since. And while Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans are inching towards their returns from injury and Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown have already made it back to the Reds first team, for O'Shea the delay goes on.
"There is no sign at all of recovery for John," said Ferguson.
"It is his first injury at the club and he is a big loss because he is such a versatile player.
"We just want to get him back but it could be a couple of months yet."
Ferguson said that when O’Shea got back from France, blood congealed in his muscle, raising the possibility of further problems.
It consigned O’Shea to the sidelines at a time when his ability to play right across the back four would have been invaluable.
Defence
In his absence, the likes of Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick have been forced to help out in defence, one of the major reasons why United lost twice in three games to put their Premier League title hopes in jeopardy.
The joint return of Vidic and Brown has coincided with a two-match winning run over Christmas that yielded eight goals, five of them coming against Wigan at Old Trafford.
Vidic and Brown will continue to shoulder the burden for now but Ferguson is optimistic Evans will return to duty in the next 10 days, with Ferdinand not too far behind after United finally got to the root of a back problem that has plagued the England defender for 18 months.
“Jonny has been involved in the football side for a few days,” said Ferguson, who is celebrating his 68th birthday today.
“He is doing well and should be back quicker, within the next 10 days or so.
“Rio is nowhere near that but the main thing is there is no recurrence of the back problem.
“That is what we have been waiting for.
“We wanted him to come through the test of running and turning. He is doing his programme in the gymnasium, which is good and at the moment it is looking very healthy.”
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It's no coincidence that a return to form, goalscoring and convincing wins has come as soon as we have defenders fit.
sad news that oshea is out injured for 2 months but i hope that evans rio &hargo we play soon.j.mifsud.siggiewi.
Alias, it's no coincidence that a return to form, goalscoring and convincing wins had absolutely nothing to do with John O'Pie.
Lets hope Wes and Nemanja stay fit as do Raphael and Patrice !
Lets keep the momentum going, get well soon
Was it originally going to be 6 months off then? Come on Rafael/Fabio you have two months to convince the gaffer. Start practicing those shoulder shrugs and looks of innocence. Only kidding Johnnie boy hope you recover soon.
He is not everybody's cup of tea is our John O'Sheysee but I tell you what we wouldn't have won the trophies we have without his enormous contribution and effort and I am sorry that he isn't available to play. Speedy recovery John I wish you well.
Sorry for Sheasy, but this has to mean that Rafael will get a prolonged run in the team...he has to keep his place and not be on the bench watching a legend that he is in Nev
Rafael with a little Cruyff turn last night to make room for his goal, this is sensational for a right back and I feel that if it had have been done by say an englishman, the media would be drooling!!
Alias Smith, over the moon
31/12/2009 at 10:43
i think our titles hope will take a huge boost now lol
rafael is miles ahead of Jos - FACT. Cmon United!
hard luck o'shea. i see the medics are earning their money again. dont we employ the best? they can turn a two week injury lay off into 2 months. 9 months becomes a year and a half. it seems the general policy is wait and see, give it rest, let nature take its course. injury prone players leave OT and are rejuvenated, etc.
of course, i dont know what goes on really, but still. we do seem to suffer from injuries more than most, or would every club claim that?
anyway, regardless, united will march on, on, on.
I think John O'Shea is a very valuable member of the squad and people that denigrate his playing don't understand the value of a versatile member in a team game. You need all types, stars, journeymen and jack-of-all-trades. O'Shea plays multiple positions and always does a decent job, as Sir Alex said about a month ago.
Comments have gone quiet on a date for a Hargreaves return. Anybody know anything??
I would agree with the early posters on here that O'shea is a very valuable piece to the puzzle that is United. He takes a lot of stick from many on here but I would want him in my squad and he is the ultimate in utility.Not to mention that the lad is really one of ours , having come up through the academy... We are a better squad with John in it... Get fit soon !!
Sheasy is definitely a great squad man that seldom lets us down. Whilst I have my doubts about the medical team I also understand that United play far more games than most teams. In addition players will often remain silent about niggling injuries to keep their place in the team. These eventually compound the problem and in cases create unrelated injuries as the body tries to accommodate the lack of treatment.
The phrase "O'Shea and Fletcher" used to turn my stomach, meaning that neither of them were any good. To his credit, despite my reservations at the time, Fergie stuck with them. Things have changed. Fletcher has turned out to be one of our star players. O'Shea has proven to be a reliable workhorse and more, and not having him around is not positive news.
Find it difficult to believe that some "fans" find this good news,JOS was a terrific prospect when he broke through into the first team & played some very very good games.He fell victim to the "utillity player" use or he would have been far more respected at OT playing in he's preffered position only,he sacrificed a lot by being prepared to play anywere in the team at anytime.He as still done a great deal to assist MU in their glory years & we should not forget that.I do not think that he is an automatic first team choice but a very good squad player who is a credit to MU...hope that 2010 brings a swift recovery too you John & good luck from the real supporters.
there is clearly a problem with the training schedule, the boots, or the pitch at OT. this number of injuries is not normal.
Great news! Raphael will HAVE to play now.
He has his detractors, including myself, but an invaluable squad player who would have been worth his weight in gold this past few weeks! So hope he will be back soon.
Nonetheless, I hope Rafael now gets an extended run now, as here is a star in the making.
Paul, Whalley Range
If we play Barca or Real or Chelsea JOS would be more likley to help us win the game.
Robbo, aw, come on, time to bury that old story, the boy's performing better, hardly puts a foot wrong, and you know that.
Get well soon ,sheasy, and never stop smiling.
His first injury at the club could not have come at a worse time Mr versitille missed big time over the last few weeks now people are starting to reallise what a important squad member he is.
crumpsallmann, Chesapeake, VA USA
Hey Crumpsall man,
I couldn't agree more. JOS one of my all time favourite utility players and a heck of a good right back. In fact, without JOS, Darren Fletcher and Phil Neville, not sure we'd have had the success we did in this decade (with just a few minutes left in it). I am proud to say I'm also born and raised in Crumpsall. Up Henry Yu's Chippie, if it's still there? Up the Reds!
Hargreaves was supposed to be back in training by christmas, is that xmas 2011.
What about Hargraves ??? SAF not even mention his name. why ?