The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Duffy reveals Republic of Ireland boss backed his switch to Scotland
Shane Duffy revealed his Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny was right behind his decision to join Celtic.
Former Ireland defender Gary Breen had controversially claimed Duffy’s one-year loan move from Brighton to his boyhood heroes could affect the Irish side, as he might pick up a few bad habits due to the lower level of striker he would face in Scottish football.
Duffy, whose goal in the 2-1 win over St Mirren in Paisley on Wednesday night was his second in as many games for the Hoops, spoke to Kenny, who managed Dunfermline between 2006 and 2007, on international duty and got positive feedback.
He said: “I did speak to him. When I did sign I was with Ireland so we had a chat and he was delighted I made the move here and he knows it can help me get better.
“Obviously Celtic play a lot with the ball and a lot higher up the pitch, which is something that I wasn’t doing at Brighton, so he thinks it can improve my game in that way and just the mentality of winning every single week and if I can bring that to the Ireland squad, he was all for it, of course.
“He knows Scotland, he knows what it’s about.
“I’m just going to keep my head down, keep working hard and trying to improve so if my form is good at Celtic that can take care of Ireland, which everyone knows is a big thing for me as well.”
On Breen’s comments, which were widely criticised from Celtic manager Neil Lennon to former Parkhead striker Chris Sutton, Duffy was playing it low key.
He said: “Everyone is entitled to their opinion, that’s his and you have to respect him as well. But I don’t believe what he says is right.
“It is a huge club up here and it is a massive honour to be at this club so I just let my football do the talking. Gary has always been very complimentary about me and he does say good things as well so, as I say, it was his opinion of my move and he is entitled to it.
“For me, I am delighted and I think it is the right move.
“It is only going to make me better playing for a club like this with the pressure around it of winning every single game and performing well.”
Meanwhile new Hoops forward Albian Ajeti might not be at peak fitness yet but has hit the ground running with goals – and he has vowed to get back to his best as soon as possible.
The Switzerland striker made his £4.5 million move to Parkhead from West Ham a month ago and came off the bench to make his Premiership debut and score the winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Dundee United at Tannadice.
The 23-year-old forward’s second Hoops goal came as substitute against Motherwell before he made his first start alongside Odsonne Edouard against Ross County in Dingwall on Saturday.
Ajeti grabbed the second goal in a 5-0 win before he made way for Patryk Klimala after 62 minutes.
He spoke of his improvement with the promise of more to come, saying: “I feel better, much better than when I came.
“This was my first start in seven or eight months, maybe more.
“My last start I think was in January, and it takes a little bit of time to get back to 90 minutes but I was happy to play 60 on Saturday.
“I am training very hard at the moment. I am trying to do some extra work to get as fit as possible. But the game was good – I played 60 minutes, I had no problems.
“We have plenty of games now so I will try to improve game by game.”