John O'Shea plays his final match for Republic of Ireland on Saturday evening - but believes West Ham's Declan Rice is the next captain-in-waiting.

The 37-year-old will win his 117th cap against USA in Dublin before retiring from an international career which began in 2001.

O'Shea could be partnered in the heart of defence by Rice, the 19-year-old who has made just two senior appearances for Martin O'Neill's side, but the former Ireland skipper sees a future leader in the shape of his young team-mate.

John O'Shea has tipped Declan Rice as a future Ireland captain to follow in his footsteps

Rice could start alongside O'Shea in Ireland's friendly clash with the USA on Saturday

It will be the 37-year-old's 117th and final game for his country before international retirement

'He has that confidence, that comfort on the ball, you can see it - the ability and the type of personality that he has, it's huge,' said the former Manchester United centre-back.

'He's a future captain way down the line, you can see it, without a doubt. Fingers crossed, he'll keep progressing and play European football.

'But let's enjoy him now as well - he's playing Premier League, he's coming over and loves being part of the squad, let's enjoy that for the moment and enjoy watching him progress.'

O'Shea meanwhile does not want to retire from football entirely, and instead play another year

O'Shea wants to play on for one more year in England, be that at Sunderland - where his contract is set to expire - or elsewhere.

Punditry and coaching are also high on his agenda, but with a third child due this summer, it is also a chance to concentrate on his family.

'You'd be foolish not to be fearful of what happens next,' he added. 'It's something that has been such a major part of your life. You have to be prepared for that and it's why, over the last four years, I've been doing my coaching badges.

'There are pitfalls for retired players and I think I need to be doing stuff. But I'll have a lot more time for the family too, make them the priority and not to be thinking that I might go here or there for a year. My wife would be like, "Will you, now?".'