Dara O’Shea has revealed the full extent of his back injury, having played through the pain for Ipswich Town and the Republic of Ireland over the last few weeks.

The defender picked up the knock last month but was adamant that he wouldn’t let it rule him out for any games. Having discussed the situation with the Blues’ physios, he was allowed to do so, featuring for club and country while nursing the issue over an extended period of time.

O’Shea has played the full 90 minutes in each of Town’s last four games, as well as Ireland’s 5-0 defeat to England at Wembley. He put in a highly impressive shift in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United and subsequently revealed that he’s nearing a return to full fitness.

“I had a fracture in a part of my back – in the transverse part of my back,” he said after match against the Red Devils. “I don’t know the full ins and outs, I’m not a physio, but I was told it was a fracture.

“I’m definitely making progress. It was a bit of a tough one. Obviously your back is hard because you can’t really rest it as such.

“I was given the all-clear to play with it and manage it in training. The club helped me really well with that.

“I think I’m coming towards the end of that now, which is promising for myself. I just hope I don’t get smashed in the back again and get sent back to the start!”