John O’Shea believes United’s pace on the counter-attack has left opposition teams quaking in their boots and has been key to their quest for glory at home and abroad this season.

Having recorded an impressive 2-0 victory in their Champions League quarter-final, first leg tie in Rome on Tuesday, the Reds now turn their attentions back to the title race.

They head to Teesside on Sunday lunchtime to face Middlesbrough looking to edge another step closer to a tenth Premier League title.

O’Shea says the squad are full of confidence going into the game and believes United’s free-flowing football will once again make the difference at the Riverside.

“It is all about the confidence we have in the team and the ability we have on the counter-attack,” he said. “We know we have been very sound and keeping clean sheets.

“The pace we have on the counter is frightening teams and that has been the difference away from home this season.”

O’Shea was a first half substitute at the Stadio Olimpico for the injured Nemanja Vidic and performed ably at the heart of United’s back four alongside Rio Ferdinand.

With the Serbian out of action for the next two to three weeks, O’Shea is likely to be a prominent figure in the back four in the coming games. And United’s Mr Versatile is more than happy to play his part.

“When the back four and Edwin [van der Sar] are playing so well and all the experience they have, it’s easy to slot in to the confidence of the team,” he insisted. “We have been keeping clean sheets all season and we want to keep that going.”