With six of his recognised midfielders either on the treatment table or victims of the virus that's swept the Rockliffe Park training ground, Strachan called on an old rival to boost his paper thin squad.
Alex McLeish may have been on the other side of the Old Firm divide when Strachan was in charge of Celtic but the former Rangers boss was happy to put aside old enmities to recommend Strachan takes the highly-rated young winger on an initial one-month loan deal.
O'Shea's ability to operate in a number of positions was also a key factor behind the move that offers Strachan much-needed options on both flanks as well as a back-up striker.
The Republic of Ireland Under-21 is regarded primarily as a right winger, but longterm injuries to the likes of Willo Flood, Scott McDonald and Jeremie Aliadiere means the Dublin-born youngster could find himself pressed in action in a variety of roles.
However, the 21-year-old Irishman is unproven in English football since he completed a move to Birmingham from League of Ireland side Galway United in 2009.
He has played in just one league game for McLeish's side and made two Carling Cup appearances.
Boro scout Gordon Mc- Queen has been keeping tabs on O'Shea, who had a trial with Derby County before his move to the Blues.
Strachan outlined the qualities that O'Shea can bring to the squad when he said: He is a wide midfield player, just a young lad who can play either flank. He's more direct than anything we've got here at the moment.
I needed someone with versatility. Looking at the bad luck we have had with injuries, I am keen to bring in players who can operate in a number of positions.
The lad made a couple of appearances as a sub for Birmingham earlier this season.
Gordon McQueen already knew about him before he joined them.
We have watched him at reserve games and he might be helpful to us. Alex (McLeish) recommended him to me.'' Julio Arca and Gary O'Neil have both succumbed to the virus which has hit the squad and the midfield pair trained away from their team mates yesterday as Strachan attempted to prevent any more of his players joining the sick-list.
Anybody who can breathe and has got a pulse we're quite happy with now!
quipped the manager.
Robbo (Barry Robson) is the only established midfielder we had the other night. Rhys Williams has been out for three months and found it hard.
We've kept Gary and Julio away, they're doing some cycling work on their own to keeping ticking over. None of the injured players will be back, but we're hoping Gary and Julio will be.
With so many players missing, it is hard even to have team meetings. We have got a tiny, tiny squad and just need to make sure we get rid of this virus.
It is not easy at the moment but everyone has their own problems. I have seven midfielders I can rely on and six of them are missing.
Strachan is reluctant to pitch O'Shea straight into the fray this weekend but he will assess the winger in today's training session before naming the party that travels to relegation-threatened Watford.
Emanuel Pogatetz, who was taken off after an hour against Preston on Tuesday, faces a fitness test but Stephen McManus has recovered from a head wound and is available.
Birmingham's former Boro defender Franck Queudrue has joined Colchester United on an emergency loan deal until the end of the season.
The Frenchman has teamed up with the League One club who currently lie in sixth position.
The move will give Queudrue the chance to play first team football with the U's and, should they be involved in the end of campaign promotion play-offs, he will be eligible for selection.
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo