CELTIC 1 SPARTA PRAGUE 4 BENFICA 3 RANGERS 3

Kenny backs on-loan Celts defender Shane as heat is turned up big time in Glasgow

THICK skinned Shane Duffy will take his medicine and prove that his confidence isn’t shot to pieces after severe criticism of his Celtic performances.

That’s the view of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny who feels the knives out analysis on his centre-back in Scotland has been over the top.

Duffy has made a ropey start to his loan spell with the SPL kingpins but his club boss Neil Lennon branded the commentary ‘hysterical’.

Celtic lost the Old Firm to arch rivals Rangers and then suffered a Europa League defeat to AC Milan before blowing a late lead in a mad-cap 3-3 draw with Aberdeen.

The backlash against Duffy was already relentless before last night’s latest error strewn showing against Sparta Prague in the Europa League.

But ahead of the upcoming internationals with England, Wales and Bulgaria, Kenny is backing his defender to stay strong.

“Shane is a tough character,” said the Ireland and former Dundalk and Derry City boss yesterday, speaking ahead of f the Sparta game.

“There’s a saying in Derry : ‘take your oil’. Sometimes you have to accept criticism and show your qualities.

“The criticisms aren’t even warranted. I don’t agree with it. He made a mistake against Aberdeen but his performances were quite good when he went there first.

“There was a tough run for him with the three games for us, the travelling and then going back in on the Thursday and straight into the he Old Firm game.

“Had they beaten Aber - deen 3-2 it might not have been highlighted.

“But they gave ve away a penalty in n the last minute and d drew 33 3-3 so then it gets highlighted because they dropped points.

“Shane has been a tremendous player for Ireland. He’s passionate and was very keen to sign for Celtic and I’m sure he’ ll be a success.”

In Kenny’s first game in charge away to Bulgaria in September, Duffy rescued a point with a trade trademark late header bu but was to blame for t the opener. He then appeared to struggle with Ireland’s new high line in the home h clash with Finland F days later – –b but launched a defence of his defensive abilities. bili i

But Kenny, (pictured inset) last night i nsists they were teething problems in what was effectively pre-season because Duffy had only just completed his loan move from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Yesterday, Kenny said: “He had had one game in nine months for Brighton, against Liverpool.

You can’t not play for months and then step it up for international level.

“In the three games l ast month, we hardly conceded any chances and he made a vital block i n Slovakia . He only went back to Scotland on the Thursday.

“Then he had to play on Saturday at 12pm against Rangers with no sleep and straight into Milan and Aberdeen.

“It was just a really, really tough run of fixtures. But Shane has been absolutely brilliant for Ireland – selfless, plays with injuries, a warrior and he’ll be a success at

Celtic.”