Sunderland signing John O'Shea knew it was time for a change when his career at Manchester United began to look threatened.

The 30-year old defender departed Old Trafford for the Stadium of Light in early July after spending most of his life in a United shirt but he knew that something had to change in regards to his football so made the plunge to join the Black Cats.

"I wouldn't say it was a wrench, it was just one of those things," he said.

"In a footballer's career, you have to move on at some point.

"It was definitely a change because I had been at United for so long. Since I was 17, I was there.

"But it was 13 years and it was time for a change."