Name: James 'Jay' O'Shea
Date of Birth: 10th August 1988
Position: Right winger/Striker
Club: Birmingham
Previous clubs: Bray Wanderers. Galway United, Home Farm, Middlesbrough(loan)
International caps: Republic of Ireland U19 5(0)
Republic of Ireland U21 14(1)
Republic of Ireland U23 2(0)
Highly rated attacking midfielder, who can also operate as a striker, O'Shea is pacey and has fantastic dribbling ability aswell as a keen eye for goal.
After playing for Irish league sides Home Farm and Bray it was a move to Galway that finally saw him start to fulfil his obvioius potential. After joining Galway in the summer of 2008 he went on to top score for the Eircom Premier League side, scoring 11 goals from the right wing, andattracted the attentions of many English sides.
A move to Coca-Cola Championship side Derby was all set up after he netted twice in a 5-2 behind closed door friendly victory whilst on trial for Rams in November 2008. The two clubs agreed a deal, reportedly worth £400,000 and it was all set to be completed on January 1st 2009 but the departure of Rams boss Paul Jewell saw the deal scrapped.
Despite interest from Birmingham and Middlesbrough he saw out the season at Galway before sealing a move across the Irish Sea, for a fee believed to be close to £1m, in August 2009. He didn't have to wait long for his debut as he came on as a sub in the game against then Champions Manchester United at Old Trafford just days after signing his two year deal.
Two more starts followed, both in the Carling Cup, before a frustrating time away from the over achieving Blues first team.
After impressing in the reserves he became a loan target of Middlesbrough and joined the Teesiders in April 2010, making two appearances during his month long stay at the Riverside.