Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT NEVER SHANES BUT IT POURS
Duffy forced to leave Celts training camp as it goes from bad to worse
SHANE DUFFY has left Celtic’s Dubai training camp and returned to the UK for personal family reasons.
The Brighton defender headed back to London last night but suggestions he was on the verge of cutting short his loan spell are wide of the mark.
Duffy is back due to family matters and Celtic are still insisting the centre-back will stay for the rest of the season despite struggling since his move to Parkhead earlier in the campaign.
The Republic of Ireland star has failed to nail down a regular role in recent weeks after inconsistent displays, and he was unconvincing when he came off the bench in Saturday’s Old Firm defeat at Ibrox.
Duffy is not expected to return to Brighton – but it is understood there is some Championship interest in nabbing the 29-yearold for the rest of the campaign.
Former Celtic and Brighton man Adam Virgo is adamant Chris Hughton – who was Duffy’s gaffer at Albion – is keen to take him to Nottingham Forest.
Virgo said: “He looked a bag of nerves against Rangers. Unfortunately, he’s made too many mistakes which have led to goals.
“I don’t see Shane going back to Brighton because he won’t get in the side.
“Other clubs will take him in the Championship.
“I guarantee Chris Hughton, who had him at Brighton, would snap him up at Nottingham Forest.”
Kilmarnock, meanwhile, are set to use Celtic’s Dubai trip to help them in their fight against SPFL puni shment f or Cov id r ule breaches. The Ayrshire club and
Shane Duffy has had a torrid time since his move north to Scotland
THE SHINING.. Celtic are in Dubai for a summer camp
St Mirren face a Hampden appeal hearing later this month after being docked points for infringing social distancing rules.
And Kilmarnock will instruct lawyers acting on behalf of the club to use Celtic’s controversial winter training camp in the Middle East as part of their appeal.
The Hoops are currently in the UAE to prepare for the second half of the season and photos emerged online which app ear to show players contravening rules set out by the football authorities.