HELLCOME GLASGOW
Scotland was no happy hunting ground but Duffy has chance to show he is player Celts THOUGHT they’d signed
THERE’S a certain club in Glasgow that revels in the number 55 - the number of league titles won during its history.
It’s not the one that Shane Duffy played for but his beloved Hoops are breathing down the necks of Rangers on 52 in that bitterest of football rivalries in which such silverware is the platinum currency of success.
Duffy also has reason to cherish 55 – the number of Ireland senior caps that the man mountain from Derry has accumulated over his career.
By tonight at Hampden Park, he will have moved on to 56 as Stephen Kenny gives him the vote of confidence by selecting the 30-year-old to anchor the Irish defence against a Scotland side buoyed by Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat of Ukraine.
Some pundits and critics continue to labour the point over Duffy’s underwhelming loan spell at Celtic two seasons ago.
His stint ended early as Celtic’s 10-in-a-row title bid disintegrated and the centre half ’s own issues on and off the pitch formed a lethal cocktail to turn the fearless defender into a player who was the shadow of his once towering self.
Yet by last September Graham Potter was happily playing Duffy in his Brighton and Hove Albion side even if by this summer he was again on his loan travels, this time to Fulham.
There, he has tasted first team action just twice and his two twists from the bench have clocked up barely 20 minutes, including stoppage time.
But while Kenny didn’t confirm Duffy’s selection this evening, it’s difficult to see him perched on the bench at kick-off.
“Shane’s been a very important player for us and he’s played a very high percentage of games since I was manager and before I was manager,” said Kenny who dismissed concern over his lack of game time since August .
“He’s revered in Ireland and he’s been a tremendous player for Ireland. He’s still in the Premier
League and it’s only seven games into the season so I’m sure he’ll get his opportunities at Fulham.
“He’s a proven player. I’d have no qualms about playing Shane.”
With Matt Doherty expected to start at right wing back, James Mcclean edging out the returned Robbie Brady on the left flank and midfield numbering Josh Cullen, Jayson Molumby and probably Jason Knight, there’s a solid and resilient shape to this Ireland side.
In attack, there are also options for Kenny with Troy Parrott impressing against Ukraine in Lodz, Chiedozie Ogbene on his best run of club form ever and Michael Obafemi stunning the Scots in Dublin with a wonder goal.
But one of this trio will have to make way unless Kenny drops a midfielder which is unlikely given that his switch to three in the middle of the park changed the team’s fortunes for the recent games with Scotland and Ukraine.
“It is a dilemma,” admitted Kenny about his attacking strategy. “We now have good competition in all areas. Callum Robinson was our main striker, was very influential.
“Scott Hogan is on the back of a great hat-trick in the midlands’ derby and Chiedozie is scoring goals.
“So we’ll have to consider that, whether we can make any changes at all from the previous Scotland game.
“It’s difficult to leave anyone out of that team. It’s something we have to consider.
Kenny , however is very aware of Scotland’s midfield trio of Scott Mctominay, Callum Mcgreggor and John Mcginn who were outstanding in the 3-0 win over the Ukrainians.
“It was the same midfield that they had in Dublin really but they are excellent players .
“They are also playing in the Premier League or Champions League apart maybe from one or two players.
“All of their players are more or less playing in the Premier League or the Champions League. Scotland are a formidable team and we highly respect them.”