BRIGHTON PEERLESS

Kenny sings praises of free-scoring centre-half Shane who’s gone from Celtic flop to Premier League rock for Seagulls

IT’S no badge of honour for Ireland that defender Shane Duffy is the second highest goal scorer in this particular squad behind James Mcclean.

But four of his five goals – the other was the opener in the World Cup playoff defeat to Denmark – have dug the Boys in Green out of a bind by securing draws each time. And the most recent of them just happened to be against today’s opponents Azerbaijan in Dublin last month, with Duffy equalising at the death in trademark style. For all the talk of a new Ireland under Stephen Kenny (below), the manager’s attack remains a cause for concern as it has yet to ignite.

And Duffy’s total haul is just one fewer than the six goals shared between all eight attackers named in the squad for this Baku clash.

Duffy has long since cemented his importance but who could have predicted a year ago that he would now be one of the Premier League’s most inform players.

The Derryman has spoken well on his nightmare loan move to Celtic and the struggles he faced off the pitch after the death of his father Brian, aged 53, in May 2020.

His confidence was shot and he lost his place in the Celtic and Ireland teams and was subjected to vile online abuse over his dad’s passing.

But just when it appeared his Brighton days were numbered, the 29-year-old has returned better than ever.

And in Baku yesterday, Ireland boss

Kenny hailed his centreback’s strength of character for getting his career back on the right track.

“Ultimately the person who deserves credit for it is himself,” said Kenny. “I think the lockdown in Glasgow, some of the players found the lockdown difficult.

“Particularly the different players on loan, they found it difficult mentally.

“There was a lot of that last year, where they were training and then going back to empty apartments at the end of the day.

“And they might not have been playing. There was an aspect of that, but I’m sure everyone in society found it difficult.”

Kenny continued: “I’ve been managing for a long time now. There are various experiences that people go through. Every team that I’ve managed, you’re not going to have a situation where everyone’s lives are perfect. There are a variety of issues.

“But in the last couple of years there has been an increase in anxiety, which is not a new development but something that’s being identified more – anxiety in young players.

“I’m still learning about that really. That’s why we have a brilliant staff here in Keith Andrews and Anthony Barry.

“Dean Kiely is excellent with Stephen Rice supporting that. And obviously David Forde is in the camp as well because he helps in that area.”

Not long after the social media abuse that Duffy received, Kenny brough Forde into the camp as a mental health and

wellbeing coach for all of the players.

The former Ireland goalkeeper runs a company called Pathfinder that specialises in personal coaching and development.

Kenny said: “Certainly, I don’t want to label anyone who goes to him that they have anxiety. You want to be careful with that.

“He is just someone who can make a contribution in that regard, definitely as part of the team.”

But Duffy looks like a player reborn at

Brighton and has been vital to their strong start with the Seagulls just two points off the top of the Premier League.

Kenny said yesterday: “It wasn’t an easy decision leaving him out in March (against Serbia and Luxembourg) but that’s where he was.

“You could see he was struggling and he agreed with me at the time. He accepted the decision and sort of understood it.

“In the summer, when he played against Hungary, that was the turning point. He ended the season on somewhat of a high. No one deserves credit, only himself.

“He has had a very good start to the season with Brighton. He loves being at Brighton, he has been there a long time, and he is comfortable there. He loves playing for Ireland, he is a good character in the squad, has shown a lot of character consistently and he intervenes in big moments. We’re lucky to have him.”