FORMER Stoke winger made an instant impact at Inter Miami after he caught a snake with his BARE HANDS at training on Thursday.
The new MLS season hasn’t even kicked off yet, but the 31-year-old has already recorded his first assist since re-signing for Phil Neville’s side.
Channelling his inner Steve Irwin, the Texas native came to rescue at training after he removed the unexpected visitor in Fort Lauderdale.
The 2013 Concacaf Gold Cup winner, who joined the Potters from FC Dallas in January that year, could be seen calmly grabbing the snake.
A video tweeted out by Inter Miami showed the versatile winger/left-back picking up the snake as it began to coil around his leg.
He then put the reptile in a rubbish bin for a member of Miami’s staff to carry it out into the parking lot.
Shea revealed that it was just another day for him having grown up with snakes and lizards.
Speaking to the Miami Herald, he said: “I grew up having pet snakes, lizards, everything, I enjoy them.
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“Most people are scared of them, but they’re pretty nice.
“They were saying ‘Watch out, there’s a snake,’ and I just wanted to see it.”
Shea, who spent time on loan at Barnsley and Birmingham during his brief time in England, has agreed a deal with Inter through to the 2022 season.
The club also have the option of keeping the player until 2023.
After being released at the end of the 2021 campaign, Shea has spoken of his delight at being given a new deal.
He told Miami’s website: “I’m happy to be back. I like being here, I like this team, I like this organisation, I just do what I’m asked like I am normally.
“If I’m asked to be a role player, I’m a role player. If I’m asked to come on the bench, I come on the bench.
“If I’m a starter, or whenever I get subbed in, I’m going to give everything I have every time I’m on the field.
“It’s been great, everyone has a lot of energy, excited. I’ve been impressed by a lot of guys. They definitely have a lot more energy, a lot of bite, a lot of hunger, so it’s exciting.”
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